Tag: prayer

Rejoice Always, With Thanksgiving.

Philippians 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

  • If we would learn to obey just this one command… Oh how wonderful life would be!
  • Corinthians 11:24-25 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. [25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me
  • It is in remembering, rejoicing and singing God’s praises that we find His presence and victory! When we lift up Jesus in praise, He will draw all men unto Himself! It is in remembering Him and all that He is and all that He has done that we find joy and rest, hope and peace! But it is not enough to only remember! There is a victory in the singing! So sing out His psalms and hymns and Spiritual songs! Obedience brings blessing!
  • Don’t we have so much to sing about?! Don’t we have so much to be grateful for?! Rejoice that your names are written in heaven!! Rejoice in your Redeemer!! Rejoice in His promises!! Rejoice in His provisions!! Rejoice in how much you’ve been forgiven!! Rejoice that He has not dealt with us according to our sins and iniquities! Rejoice that He has not marked iniquity! Rejoice for His everlasting love and this day of Grace! Rejoice in His precious gifts and blessings that add no sorrow!!
  • God literally dwells in the place where His praises are offered. When we bring a sacrifice of praise, when we sing in the valley and sing in the fire… We bring His presence into our hearts! The darkness will become light, the mourning will turn to dancing as we take our eyes off of our flesh/trials and sing of our Saviour, Redeemer and God! He dwells in those praises! In His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore! In His presence hearts are ministered to!

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

  • This is a description of a truly intimate relationship with God. A relationship of true trust, dependence and submission. A relationship that should be a natural reality to the Born Again believer.
  • Paul says in “everything”! However dramatic or menial; however insignificant or consequential; whatever the time, whatever the situation, whatever the context. Bring it all before The Lord. Bring every care, every concern, every need, desire, hurt and failure. Come with liberty, come with welcome, come with honesty and humility… 
  • But come with thanksgiving! Bring everything before The Lord but always come remembering all that He is, all that He has done, how He has met every need, how He has freely given Salvation, forgiveness, tender mercies and loving compassions, wisdom, freedom and victory! He has never failed! His arm is not shortened! He has brought you safely this far in His strength (not your own!). He is the sovereign God over all the earth! He is the creator, the maintainer, the beginning and the end!! Hallelujah!! We have very much to give thanks for!! 

He Sat Among The Ashes

Job 1
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were over, that Job sent for them to purify and sanctify them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job 2
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

  • Consider where those ashes came from and how they came to be there. They came from the altar and his daily sacrifices.
  • When everything was lost and the storm raged over His life, Job went and sat in the most intimate place of fellowship, his place of meeting with God. He found himself sat in and surrounded by the ashes of His intimate relationship with The Lord. He sat in the memory of The Lord’s faithfulness, The Lord’s provision, The Lord’s life-giving teaching, wisdom and promises. In the place that he had found the most joy, peace, hope and promise of redemption. When all physical, fleshly things were taken from him, Job did not worry, but worship!! He found solace, security and comfort in The Lord.
  • Oh may we know The Lord as Job does. There is no reason why we can’t. We have no excuse not to. We have far more reason and opportunity to know The Lord far more fully. Yet, in the trial, we are so often less likely to worship. The issue is not dispensational, the difference between Job and us (at times) is simply relational.
  • Let us be busy creating ashes of consistency with The Lord. Calling on His name, trusting in His word, seeking Him for cleansing, provision, wisdom and blessing, bringing sacrifices of praise and worship, sweet smelling savours in prayer and intercession. Let us pour out the most precious gifts to Him as David did. Then, when all is taken away, burned up and lost… May we also be found among the ashes of a life lived in communion with our Almighty, Sovereign God.