Today’s Readings:
Philippians 4
Psalm 69-71
Isaiah 41
4 Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! 5 And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. 8 Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
Philippians 4:4-8
The Lord says,
Don’t you worry about a thing. It will not add one minute to your life, and it will certainly steal enjoyment of the minutes you have. Don’t let the sorrow engulf you. Don’t let the pain penetrate your heart and make a home there. Don’t let your head remain bowed low in grief and sorrow and pain. I Am the lifter of your head. I Am the One who anoints you for good work. I Am answer to every problem. I Am the resource for every area of lack.
10 Do not yield to fear, for I am always near.
Isaiah 41:10-11
Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God.
I will infuse you with my strength
and help you in every situation.
I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.’
11 “All who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced.
All who contend with you will perish and disappear.
Don’t you worry about a thing. I Am the Lord your God your Maker who wars and wins for you. I go before you and behind you. I Am the God who upholds your right hand. You are the apple of My eye. Whom or what shall you fear?
13 I am Yahweh, your mighty God!
Isaiah 41:13
I grip your right hand and won’t let you go!
I whisper to you:
‘Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you!’
Stir up joy. Stir up hope. Stir up faith and exercise it. Take your faith out and cause it to be strengthened. Use it. That’s the only way it will grow. Ask Me to help you dream again. Ask Me to give you a vision and a bright hope for the future again.
13 But I keep calling out to you, Yahweh!
Psalm 69:13
I know you will bend down to listen to me,
for now is the season of favor.
Because of your faithful love for me,
your answer to my prayer will be my sure salvation.
Shake off the burdens, the cares, the worries and anxiety. Choose to cling to Me, to My character, My Word, My Name, My righteousness, My justice. Choose to believe and have great faith for the words of promise I have spoken over your life and over the world. Choose to look past the darkness and peer with hopeful eyes beyond what you see today. Build your inner man up with songs of praise and remind yourself of My faithfulness, My provision, My goodness and My mercies large and small.
19 For your glorious righteousness reaches up to the high heavens.
Psalm 71:19-21
No one could ever be compared to you!
Who is your equal, O God of marvels and wonders?
20 Even though you’ve let us sink down with trials and troubles,
I know you will revive us again,
lifting us up from the dust of death.
Come up here. Live up here. Live up higher and see things from above. Gain great perspective sitting here next to Me in Heavenly places. Live above the fray and the smoke of the fight. From up here, you can see the horizon. You can see that the end of this darkness is near, is within reach. In faith, pull it forward. In faith declare an end to the reign of darkness. Yes, I have already defeated it, and you will see that defeat play out in real time. Don’t let the darkness cling onto your body and soul. Don’t let the darkness mark you and drag you down from up here. Refuse the darkness. Refuse to give it any power. Refuse to give it any rights to your life. Declare that you are a child of light. Declare that you are a child of the One True King. Darkness has no place. And darkness must flee because of the Presence of the Lord who lives within you and because of your authority as a child of the King.
Can you see the the darkness dissipating even now? Can you see the smoke clearing and the fog of war lifting? Can you see the dawning of a new day? I Am making all things new.
4 But let all who passionately seek you erupt with excitement and joy
Psalm 70:4
over what you’ve done!
Let all your devoted lovers, who continually rejoice in the Savior,
say aloud, “How great and glorious is our God!”
How to Respond
- Choose joy.
- Choose hope.
- Strengthen your faith.
- Live from up higher, seated next to the Lord in heavenly places. Gain His perspective and His wisdom.
- Choose to live from a place of thanksgiving.
- Give darkness and sin and lies no place in your life. Rebuke them, and they will flee. Repent and purpose to have your heart remain pure.
- Declare that the darkness must flee. Declare that the Lord is making all things new right now.
- Declare that a new day is dawning — a day of justice, righteousness, purity and holiness.
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