Words of Faith

The phrase “The joy of the Lord is your strength” has been going over and over in my mind lately.  It’s a beautiful verse — but what does it really mean when you’re overwhelmed, facing difficulties at work, or struggling in relationships? What does the strength of the joy of the Lord look like in the middle of a trial?

I would have never put drunkenness and worry in the same category, and yet Jesus seemed to suggest that they should be. Why? What could He mean? The phrase “weighed down” in the original text is a translation of the word bareo. It means “to burden, weigh down, depress.” This single verb also pinpoints the cause of this stress: “oppressed with external evils and calamities.”  What was happening to bring such a word of warning?

In Scripture, when God calls you beloved, what do you think He actually means? Did you know that beloved is how your heavenly Father describes you? If we were to put this concept of being beloved into everyday English, it would be something like this: 
“You are the one I love deeply with all my heart. I have chosen and claimed you. You are worth more to me than you can possibly imagine or comprehend. You belong in my love.”

Have you ever lost heart from the exhausting difficulties before you that seem to stretch on forever? The hardships that seem impossible to overcome? Or maybe you have had victory over something, but then the next day it seems like there is a whole new mountain to climb, and you’re not sure you have the strength. We hear the gospel preached and we believe it! Christ died for our sins, and we have salvation in Him which means a future in heaven; hooray! But where is the salvat

Because of Jesus, we are beloved. Because of Jesus, we are dear to God’s heart. Because of Jesus, we have been made worthy. Because of Jesus, we are beloved.

Lord, don’t let my heart cool Towards You, fill me with holy Passion, let my lips sing praise Of You, only You. And fill My heart with worship of You.

The winds cease and the waves calm. This is One with absolute authority and power over nature. He is a teacher, but not just another voice spreading another teaching. He is the Teacher. The One who speaks the secrets of the kingdom of God and the One whose voice stops the storm. I’m not sure what sort of storm is kicking up fear in your life, but I know this Teacher. I know that He is with you in the storm and that He has a plan for you through the storm.

Shh…listen! Can you hear it?  The call to worship! Listen To the whirring of seraph wings as They hover around the greatest throne, The music of angel voices as they sing The melody of highest praise, “Holy, holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!”

Then suddenly before them stands An angel, bathed in light, Who tells them of a baby born This long-awaited night

How has this year been for you? Perhaps it was a great year, full of exciting adventures, pleasurable experiences, and rewarding achievements.  But, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was so rough that you’re surprised you’ve made it through. Maybe simply surviving this past year is itself an incredible accomplishment. I can relate.