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Turning your sorrow into JOY :
But, JOY comes in the morning, weeping may endure, but only for a night [Psalm 30:5]. It is the comforting promise of God, and also His enabling, while passing through these rivers of difficulty, that are now upon us. When He is your Good Shepherd, God leads you to rest and restoration, that restores your soul with joy to walk in His paths of righteousness, finding delight in doing His specific will for your life. It is why the prayer of the psalmist comes as a word in season, to study and meditate upon even today, Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground [Psalm 143:10].
The world system can offer you many options, even in this time of pandemic, to only in the end leave you still fearful, looking over your shoulder at what may crop up next to stop you in your tracks. But when you look ahead to fix your eyes upon the Lord and His word to you, you will move forward, though swirling waters that threaten to drown you, may be in front of you right now. It was how Joshua was able to progress in the will of God for him and the people of Israel, as he heeded the word of God that called for sanctification, for He was about to do wonders among them [Joshua 3:5].
And sanctification in your life today, is a separation unto God, for the fulfillment of His will and purpose, that He may be glorified, and you may be truly blessed. Therefore, sanctification needs to be followed by submission and service, as a worthy response to it, and the responsibility that is yours. It is doing the will of God, the good works that have already been prepared for you, in the power of His grace, that is supernatural living, or a wonder filled life. And the Lord Himself has modeled it perfectly on earth, for He was able to say to His Father, as He faced the Cross, knowing that the fulfillment of His ordained purpose was at hand, I have glorified You on the earth; I have finished the work You have given Me to do [John 17:4].
It is in knowing God’s purpose that is specific and uniquely His will for you that such assurance and confidence can be yours. And it is in turning to the scriptures that your heart is enlightened, and your mind is renewed, to be in alignment with God’s will for you. For, as the psalmist has described, The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes [Psalm 19:7]. And your soul is restored by His word, to think, feel and decide to do what is right. Unfathomable as it may appear to be, you have the mind of Christ. And He is your wisdom, that you may know what you need to do, and also have the power and strength to go on and accomplish it, for the glory of God. Also, it does not have to be a mournful obedience, being dragged along unwillingly, or being prodded from behind to take a path that is not your inclination. For, He is the Good Shepherd, who goes ahead, as your Protector and Provider.
You can therefore, as the word of God tunes you to hearing His voice, find rejoicing and delight in doing His will. And when there is enjoyment and pleasure in carrying out a task it will lead to excellence, as God births in you desires that are in line with His word. It was how the psalmist was able to acknowledge his delight saying ‘I was glad when they said to me ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’ and ‘I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, His courts with praise’ to worship God, and be transformed to do His will joyfully. And by connecting it to something as simple, essential and enjoyable as the tasty food that you look forward to eating, day in and day out, the prophet Jeremiah, describes the role and the process by which God’s word can become a part of your system. Your words were found, and I ate them; And Your words to me, were the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your Name [Jeremiah 15:16].
Your hunger :
It is true that truth is easily communicated when food or finance becomes part of the picture! A hungry stomach needs no second invitation when food is set before it. And so it is when you have a hungry heart that longs to partake more and more of the Lord’s word, and finds precious fulfillment doing so.
And your attitude :
But then again, even when it comes to eating, when the media influences your thought process, though you may be hungry, you may forego what is set before you. For, what is improbable and unnatural is what it projects continuously, to lead many a person into a life of pressure and misery, unable to come to terms with oneself in an image conscious world. Thus, your attitude towards the word of God, is also a very important criteria, in determining the manner and amount of God’s word that you partake of, that it may dwell in you richly. And it is also the unchanging truth that as the Lord Himself quoted to overcome the evil one ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ [Matthew 4:4]. Even at the Lord’s Table, it is as you partake of the elements signifying the Body and Blood of the Lord, that you become part of what was accomplished on the Cross of Calvary, the finished work of the Savior. It is what the Son of God became, that you and I may become sons of God as we believe in Him.
An attitude of longing :
Yet again bringing a picture of eating to mind, making the truth very vibrantly real, the words of the psalmist describes the right attitude that needs to be even in you, towards God’s word, I opened my mouth and panted; For I longed for Your commandments [Psalm 119:131]. You and I have seen or watched little birds in a nest, opening their mouth in their eagerness to receive food that the mother bird waits to feed them with. And God can do so much more, when you long for His word, for, ‘Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it’ is His everlasting word of promise. It will bring joy in you, leading to rejoicing, that also strengthens you to do His will with delight.
The words of eternal life :
‘To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life’ [John 6:68]. They were the words of Peter spoken with true clarity. For, even as the Lord satisfied the physical hunger of the five thousand miraculously, in His compassion and love, the Lord also drove home the truth of higher spiritual values, as He spoke later of living by partaking of His Body and Blood. And it saw the multitudes melt away. The Lord will never ignore your immediate physical need, the bread that satisfies your hunger. But He also wants to give Himself to you, for He is the Bread of Life. And He does it by His word, the words of eternal life.
It is where your attitude comes into play, as displayed in the fervent and expectant response of the disciple. The eager expectation that was in prophet Jeremiah also, towards receiving the word of God can be seen in his words saying that he partook of God’s word that came to him, the moment it came. It brooked no delay in him. And even as you worship, it is the interest and inclination in you, that expects in faith to receive from God, the seed of His word, that will bring about a right response in you, one that will make you sing for joy! There are three responses that can arise in you to the word of God, that lead to joy, the fruit of the Spirit, becoming the outworking of it.
1. Receiving – leads to rejoicing :
There are many options when it comes to responding to the revelatory word of God, that comes to you from Him in His time, to address your situation very specifically and relevantly. It can be marginalized and even ignored. But it was not so with the Thessalonians as Paul sets forth in his epistle. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as word of men, but as what it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe [1 Thessalonians 2:13]. They received what Paul and his companions spoke to them, as the word of God, and not the word of men. And they believed the word of God, laying down an example for you and I to do the same.
It then marvelously works in you, even as it speaks to you as a command, and not an option. And the wonderful aspect of it is that His commands are not burdensome. On the contrary they become your enabling, as you receive them by faith. It is not the doctor’s opinion, that you usually validate with a second opinion.There is only one opinion, when it comes to God’s word’, and it is more than sufficient. Courage, clarity and perspective will come to you, as you receive His word to you as a command that will do good in you.
It is why the centurion as he came to the Lord, requested Him to say just one word, that his servant may be healed. He recognized even then, the authority and power that was in the word that came from the mouth of the Lord. When it comes to obedience that is delayed though, one has to keep in mind that God is not mocked. And receiving His word that comes to you, can never be merely an endorsement of the desires of your own self. For, His thoughts are much higher, as high as the heavens are above the earth. And the Lord who loves you, gives you His word that as you receive and retain it, will permeate within you that you may not have regrets later.
Pride in you may insist on having it’s own way, but you are called to receive the word of God with humility putting away all lawlessness. It was how Mary surrendered in willing submission, to receive the word that came from God, spoken to her by the angel of God, to say ‘I am your child; Be it unto me according to Your word’ [Luke 1:38]. And how such an attitude can bring joy in your soul can be seen in her song of thanksgiving, declaring how her spirit rejoices in God, her Savior [vs 47]. Being thankful and grateful to God for speaking to you, to receive it by responding to it rightly will lead you to a place of rejoicing. And when you receive the word of God as it needs to be received, you will find that the rest will take care of itself.
2. Repenting – leads to rejoicing :
Godly sorrow leads to repentance that brings joy and times of refreshing in your life. It was what happened on the day of Pentecost, as Peter spoke proclaiming Lord Jesus, to be the Risen Savior. Now when they heard this,they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the apostles ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ [Acts 2:37]. Truth can be bitter, it has been said, when it is about yourself. It can touch a raw nerve in you, causing you pain. But it also reveals the source, the root that needs to be uprooted, to be healed and made whole. It is what the doctor does, when he examines you to locate and diagnose the nature of your problem. It could be painful, but it leads to healing and wellness in you.
Your heart this day, could be carrying many aches and pains, doubts and fears, that are the ramifications of sin, for you and I live in a fallen world. But today, forgiveness of sin is at hand, for you to live in victory and liberty. It is what Christ has accomplished on the Cross of Calvary, a marvelous truth that Peter spoke on that first sermon, to also lay down your side of the bargain, or your responsibility, which is repentance. Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38].
‘Father, forgive them..’ were the Lord’s words of forgiveness on the Cross, where He who knew no sin became sin, for the sins of the whole world. And forgiveness of sins becomes part of your life, as you repent and make a ‘u’ turn, when God speaks His word to you, when it is more than a mere formality, but something that is reflected in your conduct. It is then that rejoicing becomes your portion in life, a glorious change of direction, turned around from being dead in your transgressions, and proceeding towards hell, to moving towards heaven. Sin, however big or small it is can never be covered up. It will ultimately find you out. It cannot be justified or blamed on others either. And that it will take away all joy in you, was what King David found out, until the Lord spoke to him through the prophet. And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David; the Lord also ha put away your sin. You shall not surely die’ [2 Samuel 12;13].
And he was led to repentance, that saved him from the wages of sin, that is death, or an eternal separation from God, and a restoration of joy in his soul, as he took responsibility for it. Today, you do not have to die in your sins, when you take responsibility for it. For, Christ has already dealt with it on the Cross. As with David, the Lord confronts you, to embrace and not to embarrass you, to lovingly lead you to repent as you come to Him that He may search you, and show your hidden faults, that He may lead you in the everlasting way, to the joy that was once yours. And it is repentance that leads you to rejoicing.
3. Renewing leads to rejoicing :
Your life is a vessel, cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb, from being a sin producing factory, to be filled to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. For, in repentance having turned to Him, you cannot remain stagnant,but need to move ahead in the right path to continue in the rejoicing that repentance and making a ‘U ‘turn gave in you. It is what leads to fruitful christian living. And it is made possible through the renewing of your mind by the word of God, that brings about a transformation within you, turning your sorrow into joy. For, when the word of God pricks you, to expose your problem of sin, and it’s symptoms, whatever they may be, it also reveals the Savior who has died for your sins on the Cross, to rise again on the third day, conquering sin and death. You have a Risen Redeemer who has purchased you with His precious Blood.
Therefore, the words of Nehemiah in the scriptures, speak to you today to say that, The joy of the LORD is your strength. The people were weeping, in repentance acknowledging their sin, displaying the right response to it, to be led to forgiveness and joy as Nehemiah said to them, ‘Go your way; eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to the Lord. Do not mourn or weep, for the joy of the Lord is your strength [Nehemiah 8:10]. And all the people even as they heard this, rejoiced greatly, to do as they were bid to, for they now understood the word that had been declared to them [vs 12].
It is how, even in your life, a renewing of your mind by the word of God, leads to a right understanding of the truth to take you to the next level in rejoicing, as the joy of the Lord becomes your strength. It is seen displayed powerfully in the prayer of king David, as he and the people of Israel with a renewed mind greatly rejoiced to give unto the Lord. It was an acknowledgement of the truth that it was a precious privilege to be used for His purposes and His glory. They declared it,as they offered themselves and what was in their hand to God, who had given it to them. Then the people rejoiced for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord, and King David also rejoiced greatly [1 Chronicles 29:9].
It was a transformed attitude in the hearts of the people, a renewing of their minds by the word of God that saw it happen, for it is generally easier to receive with rejoicing from God, than giving willingly unto Him. But as the Lord has spoken in His word so clearly, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’. He loves a cheerful giver. And David as he declared the truth of the ownership of God over all that they had given unto Him with joy, prayed that the Lord would work in the hearts of the people, so that they would continue to rejoice for the glory and honour of His Name. ‘O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts in the heart of Your people, and fix their hearts toward You [vs 18].
Indeed may this prayer be the blessing of the Father upon your life, in all the coming days as He carves upon your heart, His word that sets you free. And as you receive it rightly, to repent and be renewed, may you be led to rejoicing, and times of refreshing that comes to you from His wondrous presence, where there is fullness of joy. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
