Thursday, February 4
Posted by The 5.2 Project on Thursday, February 4, 2010
Good morning!!! Got your coffee and your Bible?! Awesome.
Please [stop] and praise God for something today. Ask Him to take you deeper than you've ever been before.
I so enjoy studying with you.
Lets get started!
Joy. Rejoicing. In the midst of difficult circumstances.
Are you kidding me?! No, my friends. I'm serious. We can have joy in the midst of a storm. In fact, it gives us strength and enables us to STAND.
Got your shovel out? Ready to dig deep with me?
Psalm 118:24 says "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." I've heard this verse a zillion times. But I never realized before the actual CONTEXT of this verse. The verses before it say… "I will praise you because you have heard me and become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Are you processing this? That verse is referring to the crucifixion of Christ… and that day brings us joy. Hmm. How does that work?!
Flip over to John 16:20-22. Jesus is speaking to His disciples here. Read what He says.
Now turn to Philippians 4:4. Wrap it up today with Psalm 16:11.
Ready for your homework?
What is this joy that we read about so often through the Psalms? These people went through some TOUGH circumstances [David – rough marriage – adultery – loss of a child – people that wanted to kill him, etc.]! How are they rejoicing?!
Does having joy change the reality of our circumstances? Does it make them less painful?
Go deeper. What is the joy that Jesus speaks of when He states that there is a joy that the world can't take away? How do we maintain that focus?
Think. Tie everything we've been learning so far together. Blessed… knowing what you know… praising… joy… standing…how do they all connect? Push yourself.
Please [stop] and praise God for something today. Ask Him to take you deeper than you've ever been before.
I so enjoy studying with you.
Lets get started!
Joy. Rejoicing. In the midst of difficult circumstances.
Are you kidding me?! No, my friends. I'm serious. We can have joy in the midst of a storm. In fact, it gives us strength and enables us to STAND.
Got your shovel out? Ready to dig deep with me?
Psalm 118:24 says "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." I've heard this verse a zillion times. But I never realized before the actual CONTEXT of this verse. The verses before it say… "I will praise you because you have heard me and become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Are you processing this? That verse is referring to the crucifixion of Christ… and that day brings us joy. Hmm. How does that work?!
Flip over to John 16:20-22. Jesus is speaking to His disciples here. Read what He says.
Now turn to Philippians 4:4. Wrap it up today with Psalm 16:11.
Ready for your homework?
What is this joy that we read about so often through the Psalms? These people went through some TOUGH circumstances [David – rough marriage – adultery – loss of a child – people that wanted to kill him, etc.]! How are they rejoicing?!
Does having joy change the reality of our circumstances? Does it make them less painful?
Go deeper. What is the joy that Jesus speaks of when He states that there is a joy that the world can't take away? How do we maintain that focus?
Think. Tie everything we've been learning so far together. Blessed… knowing what you know… praising… joy… standing…how do they all connect? Push yourself.
.jpg)
