Is It Enough to Rejoice and Be Glad?

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Lisa Blair

We know so many partial scriptures and tend to recite them in daily conversations, but part is never the whole. Let’s dig deeper into Psalm 118.

We will begin with Verse 1, “Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, because His mercy endures forever.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭118:1‬ ‭MEV‬‬ https://bible.com Each morning we are to give thanks, why, because the Lord’s mercy endures forever. That means everyday until the end of time.

There is so much to unpack in this scripture, it would become a thesis, so let’s focus on verses 1, 24, 27, 28, and 29 today.

“This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Palm 1818:24. It is the day the Lord has made and, yes – we are to rejoice in it. But as we read further we find that Paul is encouraging Christ’s followers to thank God for this day and rejoice in it. You see it doesn’t matter what you have lived through. It doesn’t matter who you were before Christ entered into your life. It doesn’t matter the crowd you followed, all that matters is that you are now a child of God and should be thankful for all of His blessings.

Verse 27 stresses that God is Lord, and He has given us “light”. Christ is the light. His light is nestled inside us and radiates out to those around us. The light much like a beacon, is a guiding light drawing in the lost bringing them closer to our Lord. They poise the question, what is it about you that makes you different? Our acts should represent the same characteristics as Christ. Our behavior should emulate His. Our language and disposition should reflect what we are told in Galatians 6. We should walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. We should demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our walk, and it begins with recognition of the new day as a gift from God.

Being like means that on dismal days, do we present a grey attitude or do we rejoice in the day? This day too was created by our Lord and we should rejoice. Often, I find myself complaining and have to reflect restructure my thinking to rejoice in the day, Why? It is simple, He loves me, woke me up, and gave me new mercies. I should be glad in it and rejoice. My focus should be on the things above and not on the earth which is full of sin. If I reflect on the things of this earth, it changes my inner atmosphere by giving over to the present evils.

When we look at the news, do we grumble and sink into the malaise of the day, or do we focus on the Lord? Do we get lost in the thoughts of negativity, or do we, instead, rejoice in the fact that no matter what is going on around us, our Lord is still King and remains on the throne? Do we praise Him for who He is, or cower down to the evil, consumed by what we see, experience, or feel?

Verses 28 and 29 refocuses our thoughts on our purpose. We are to continually give praise and thanks for the day, knowing that in the best of moments and the bleakest, God is still in control.

“You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.” Psalms‬ ‭118:28-29‬ ‭MEV‬‬ https://bible.com

When digging deeper we see we are blessed to awake to a new day. We are to give thanks, rejoice, and be glad (grateful). We are to recognize who God is in our life and behave in a way pleasing to Him. We are to look for God in all things and reflect on them and not what we lies before us. The Lord is the lamp that guides us through this life. We are nestled in His love and His mercy endures forever.

Guest Post: Fear of the Lord

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Posted on June 22, 2022 by Lisa Blair

Good Morning, Good Day, Good Evening🌞

I just have to share this daily devotional. The verse is so exacting, clear and concise. Take a minute to listen to the pastor explain it.

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. ” (Proverbs‬ ‭9‬‬:‭10‬ NLT)

Pastor Flowers, YouVersion guest speaker

The YouVersion Bible app invites a guest speaker to share a verse everyday. I recommend downloading the app if you haven’t already done so. The guest speakers are selected from an international pool of pastors and ministers.

Have a great day!

Say Goodbye to 2021. Thank God for this soon to be past year. We survived to recap and reflect. I thank God for His grace and mercy in 2021. ~ Lisa Blair

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Posted on January 1, 2022 by Lisa Blair

Holá!

2021 is coming to a close. I found this Dec 30, 2021 Lectio devotional to be very helpful in focusing and recapping the events in your life, lamenting, and moving forward into 2022.

While searching scriptures for this post, I came across an article entitled, 17 Bible Verses about New Beginning for the New Year, by Billy Hallowell, December 28, 2021. Insider. Pure flix..com, the author wrote, and I paraphrase, don’t let the events and happenings of 2021 hold you back in 2022. It’s easy to get bogged down and chaos and bad decisions, but it is never too late to embrace a new cell and push away the old self. Rather than dwelling on the past, solidify a new beginning by turning to scripture and prayer. Map out goals and pray that God guide you where he wants you in the new year.

Further, the author writes perhaps you feel weak and tired as 2021 comes to a close. Maybe you’ve struggled and are in need of strength and sustenance. Have no fear. Place your hope in God and pray for his supernatural strength to fill your heart and comfort you you can find renewed strength and a new beginning in him.

“So we say with confidence quiet the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can you mortals do to me?” Hebrews 3:16 NIV

Here is the link.

https://lectio365.24-7prayer.com/share

Go to the 🏠 at the bottom left of the page, open it .

More Scriptures to enter the New Year equipped.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on him.“ Lamentations 3:22–24 NIV

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.“ 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

“And whatever you do, whether in word or D, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.“ Colossians 3:17 NIV

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it’s brings up; do you not receive it? I am making away in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.“ Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF MY FOLLOWERS. This is my final Post for 2021. May God bless you and yours throughout 2022. Looking forward to sharing God’s Word and how to apply it in daily life this coming year. It’s all about application.

~ Lisa Blair

Mercy and Merciful

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Posted on September 17, 2021 by Lisa Blair

All too often we understand the term mercy and assume that we apply it in our lives. But having mercy and being merciful are two different things, one is a descriptor or a noun, the other an adjective, the way in which we apply mercy.
~ Lisa Blair

Mercy and Merciful Defined

Mercy according to Easton’s Bible Dictionary (free app) defines mercy as: compassion for the miserable. It’s object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the son of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness. In Christ mercy and truth met together. Mercy is also a Christian grace.

Merciful is the act of expressing mercy, according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. This is accomplished through the act of compassion, and tenderness. When you are merciful you become predisposed to forgive offenses, and are unwilling to allow the human, get-back nature to thrive. In short, you become unwilling to retaliate and instead forgive. When we are merciful and forgive as Christ forgave, it frees you from the restrictions of hate, anger, and fear.

https://www.sacredspace.ie/scripture/luke-636-38

Resources: YouVersion.com; Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Bible Dictionary App

A Prayer for All of Us

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Posted on January 3, 2021 by Lisa Blair

Lord, we follow and we stray, help us to continue down your path looking forward as we travel through 2021.
~ Lisa Blair

Dear Lord,
So much is going on in our Nation; the COVID 19 virus is continuing to take lives and fill hospitals with little to no available beds. Our democracy is being stressed beyond our wildest thoughts. Our economy is suffering as the virus brings us to our knees. It is my prayer that while we are on our knees, we pray to you for forgiveness. I pray we, hi as a Nation, recognize you as our Lord and Savior, the only one that can save our Nation. Please save us of our sins, heal us (spiritually, emotionally, and physically), Lord, and help us put you first in our lives, forever seeking you in all conditions.

Lord, by your grace we entered the New Year, 2021. We are survivors. We are here! Let us proclaim you King above all kings and leaders. Let us surrender to your will, your way, and your life. Let us become more dependent upon you. Teach us to obey your Word. Please help us to heal historical wrongs against one another in the USA and abroad. Please help us save the earth and quit polluting and wasting valuable resources. Let us become a world of people seeking to help one another as you expect us to do, loving one another, helping those in need, and treating our neighbors as we want to be treated. Help us to be strong and courageous. Not to fear or be afraid of any outside forces. (Deut. 31:6 NIV)

Lord, do not allow us to return to the old norms that caused us to suffer from fractured relationships with you. Let us create new norms that are ensconced in your Word.

We are your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you have prepared us to accomplish. (Eph 2:10 NIV) Since we are in Christ, we are new creations in Christ. the old man is gone; we stand here new. (2 Corinth. 5:17 NIV)

This is my prayer for 2021.