Art class was over. She asked me if she could stay to finish making a friendship bracelet. I said no until I realized why she was asking. It was her friend’s birthday and she wanted to give the bracelet to her as a gift.
It gave me joy to let her stay.
I think God gets joy when we ask for things to give to our friends.
I was in distress.
But the Lord heard when I called to him.
He has put joy in my heart (from Psalm 4:1-7).
“The glory of the Lord appeared . . . and when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy (Leviticus 9:23 -14 NIV).”
God’s glory brings joy. Pray believing.
Chalk art that reminded me to choose joy.
Find joy through prayer. “In God’s presence there is fullness of joy (from Psalm 16:11).”
Conceived
and wanted.
Prayed for
Loved.
Mother
with father beside her
delivered
baby girl;
named her Jaema Kaye.
Now we praise.
Through prayer,
sharing God’s joy.
For baby,
our granddaughter,
Who is loved by God.
Due to circumstances beyond his control, a winsome young man has found himself in a disappointing job. Day after day he enters a prison-like gray cubicle. He doesn’t see sunshine. Or clouds.
He struggled with depression. Until now. Every morning he enters his cubicle and pauses to imagine Jesus. Sitting there. Waiting for him.
He is finding joy.
The Lord has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).”
Sometimes we hesitate to confess and repent because we don’t want to burden God with our sin. It’s helpful to remember that Christ already bore our sins in his body (1 Peter 2:24).
And that there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).
People often comment about her joy. It’s genuine.
Her secret? She prays, confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).
Happy Birthday, Anneliese!
I treasure every picture and card my granddaughters make, and proudly display them on our refrigerator. They bring me joy.
There’s a red paper covered with purple scribbles.
A white card with purple, green and red scribbles.
A princess with blue skin.
A card covered with carefully written letter-like shapes.
God treasures our prayers like that, holding them in heaven’s golden bowls.
The prayer of the upright is His delight (Proverbs 15:8 NKJV).
I sat outside her bedroom, waiting. When my granddaughter woke she ran as fast as she could, into my arms. I still feel the joy she gave me.
I want God to see me, running eagerly to Him, every morning. I want to bring God joy.
A Blog on Prayer 