Thursday, March 14, 2013

Receiving Joy


It seems strange to post a devotional talking about not hesitating to receive joy from God when I am racing to get a bunch of stuff accomplished. But even in the rush it could have been a highly frustrated one or one with relative peace. I am so thankful that today's rush was a peaceful one, one where I was working to equip others for tasks that I once did and rejoicing in their excitement to step into new positions.

I can think of other "foolish" days when I have snapped back with words to the effect that I did not have time to enjoy what God was doing. It is such an easy trap to fall into if you are a detail kind of person. I guess it can even be an easy one to fall into if you are a disorganized person chasing your tail. Either way, it is easy to let our circumstance cloud our relationship with our God. It is so important that we don't do this and the benefits are so unquestionably good.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (3/14)

Do not hesitate to receive joy from Me, for I bestow it on you abundantly. The more you rest in My Presence, the more freely My blessings flow into you. In the Light of My Love, you are gradually transformed from glory to glory. It is through spending time with Me that you realize how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you.

Sometimes the relationship I offer you seems too good to be true. I pour My very Life into you, and all you have to do is receive Me. In a world characterized by working and taking, the admonition to rest and receive seems too easy. There is an intricate connection between receiving and believing: as you trust Me more and more, you are able to receive Me and My blessings abundantly. Be still, and know that I am God.

But we all, was unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NK JV)

… So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love in Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

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