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Showing posts with the label #rejoice

Praise the Lord!

Scripture: Psalm 51:15 (ESV) 15           O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise Devotion: Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance from King David, who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the murder of her husband, Uriah. David was confronted by the prophet Nathan and convicted of his sin. He cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, and asked God to restore his joy and fellowship. This passage is a powerful example of the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the restoration it brings to our lives. Verse 15 is part of David's plea for restoration. He asks God to open his lips, so that he can declare God's praise. This implies that David's sin had silenced his praise. He had lost his ability and desire to worship God, because he knew he had offended God and broken his covenant. He felt ashamed and unworthy to speak of God's goodness and glory. But David also knew that only God could heal ...

Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks*

A Devotion on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice Always In his letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul issued a powerful command: 'Rejoice always' (1 Thessalonians 5:16). This is not a mere suggestion, but a directive that holds immense significance for our spiritual journey. The key to maintaining a constant state of joy, even in the face of trials, troubles, and temptations, lies in understanding that our joy is not contingent on our circumstances, but on our unchanging relationship with God. He is the wellspring of our joy, and His love, Salvation, strength, and eternal presence are our constant sources of rejoicing. No matter our challenges, we can find solace and joy in the Lord, our unfailing hope and help. Pray Continually Paul's instruction, 'Pray continually' (1 Thessalonians 5:17), “It is not in the moving of the lips, but in the elevation of the heart to God, that the essence of prayer consists’ (Lightfoo t ), and it is this that enables us t...