4 posts tagged “joy”

Dear Father, You are my Lord.

Apart from You I have no good thing.

I will praise the Lord who counsels me.

Even at night my heart instructs me.

My heart is glad.

My tongue rejoices.

My body will rest secure.

You have made known to me the paths of life,

You fill me with joy in Your presence.

I am filled with eternal pleasures 

No one can take that away from me!

ATTITUDE

Read Philippians 2

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 NIV

Paul continues his words of exhortation for unity in the church at Philippi. These new believers have trusted in Christ for their salvation and are growing in faith. He reminds them that they don’t have to do it in their own strength:

“...work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” he writes, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (12b-16a)

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Lord, I praise You for the gift of Your Spirit to help me to will and act according to Your purpose. Forgive me when I complain or argue, and give me the encouraging, uplifting words of life that will shine like stars in the darkness.

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If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 NIV

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THE PATH OF LIFE

Read Psalm 16

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV

Continuing to think about how God has led in relation to ministry:

From the time I was a child, I always loved to sing. Whenever our family would go somewhere in the car - which was at least a once a week Sunday drive - I would sit in the back seat, press my nose to the glass and quietly sing Christian songs. I think those songs were a source of teaching for me in those early years, because I wasn't inclined to read my Bible very much. I would start by singing a song and then take a word from it and think of another song. For instance, "Jesus Loves Me" would lead to "O How I Love Jesus," "The Love of God," etc. Some of my favorite choruses were:

• "Safe Am I"
• "Jesus is a Wonderful Savior"
• "Wonderful Grace of Jesus"
• "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know"
• "He Holds My Hand"
• "Walking Everyday With Jesus"
• "In The Garden"
• "The Old Rugged Cross"
• "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
• "There's Within My Heart a Melody"
• "Living For Jesus"
• "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"
• "Follow, I Will Follow Thee, My Lord"
• "Wherever He Leads I'll Go"
• "A Crown To Win"
• "Heaven Is A Wonderful Place"
• "I'm So Happy and Here's The Reason Why"
• "I'm H-A-P-P-Y because I'm S-A-V-E-D
• "I've Got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart"
• "Into My Heart"
• "Just As I Am"
• "Thank You Lord, For Saving My Soul"
• "Thank You Jesus For All You've Done"
• "Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone, Yes My Sins Are Gone."

As I look at the titles of these songs - and there are hundreds more - I realize how God used them to influence my heart attitude toward Him. This love of singing eventually led to ministry for many years. My first duet was "The Old Rugged Cross" when I was about 12. That was when I realized that I could "hear" the alto part. Throughout high school I sang with choirs, ensembles, duets, trios and solos. In Bible College I was part of a trio that sang for a weekly television program.

I will write more about this aspect of ministry later.

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Has music played a part in your relationship with God? Are there particular songs you fondly remember. What are your favorites now?