Terri's Wellspring

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

I enjoy singing but I am at best a shower singer. So at church, I do my best to at least achieve the “joyful noise” category. And even though my pitch and knowledge of the words is a little sketchy, I do try to sing unto the Lord with gladness. I have found that no matter how I am feeling, if I have a song in my heart the Holy Spirit is gracious to provide an uplifting of my heart and mind. You can sing only so many verses of “I love you Jesus” or “I am a friend of God” before you begin to reflect on God’s goodness in our lives. So as I approach another day, I will endeavor to keep a song in my heart and His praises on my lips for the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.    Habakkuh 3:18

I was surprised when I discovered that joy appears in the Bible as both a noun and a verb.  Similar to love, it is something that we experience but it is also something we can do.  In this passage, during a time of great adversity the writer chooses to honor God with praise.  It is a personal choice to transcend his thoughts from his current circumstance to recognizing God for who He is in our lives. 

Wherever we find ourselves on the journey, choosing to put praises our lips and rejoicing in our hearts is the key to our strength and our endurance.  I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.    John 10:10  (New Living Translation)

This week has been an opportunity to think about God and His gift of His Son.  Jesus came that we might have an abundant life.   When I think about God’s abundance, I imagine having more than enough.  An overflowing supply of the fruits of the Holy Spirit:  peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.  This translation describes it as a rich and satisfying life.    Another says that He came that we might have everything that we need. 

What an indescribable blessing!  This journey into abundance begins with accepting His Son and grows as we mature in our walk with Him.  Wherever we are along the path, I believe there is always more available to us based on our walk with Him.  As we pray, give praise, study His word and walk in His ways, I believe this satisfying life grows. I am so thankful for a risen Savior and that each of us can begin this journey when we open our hearts to Him.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Dear Father:    I dedicate this day to You.  Today is such a precious gift.  I am so thankful for waking up with a mind to serve You.  I seek to honor Your gift with holy and honorable living.  I want my words, my thoughts and my actions to reflect Your love for me.  I will keep praises on my lips and thanksgiving in my heart. With a glad heart I will serve You. I dedicate this day to You.

Amen

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.    Psalm 34:1

I have so much to thank God for in my life. His goodness, His mercy and His love blesses my life in ways that I cannot imagine. How do I respond to such a great gift that I could not possibly pay for?  God is worthy of my praise with my words, my thoughts and my deeds. I seek to live a life of praise that honors Him in every way.

Praise the Lord, all you nations.  Praise him, all you people of the earth for he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.  Praise the Lord!        Psalm 117      New Living Translation

We have so much to praise God for.  We may be feeling a lot of pressure, experiencing a number of challenges but in all things we are compelled to give thanks and to praise God for His many blessings to us. 

This passage reminds me of God’s unfailing love for me and for you.  Despite our shortcomings and our misgivings, God is faithful to have an enduring love for us.   It is difficult to meditate on that thought and not be able to feel praise and thanksgiving in our hearts.

Hello world!  May GOD shed His blessings on you.