We are ending 2017 by reading all of Psalm 119 with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! I LOVE this idea! Psalm 119 is ALL about the Word of God! As you read through, try to find the references to the Word in every verse. There are only a couple that are actually hard to find. As you read through, you will find yourself getting more excited about reading it! Then we go right into Philippians 4! We have THIS exhortation in verse 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
"Rejoice" here is the Greek word "chairo", which means: to be cheerful, calmly happy, well-off, be well, be glad, to thrive. The Greek word for 'joy' (chara) comes from this root word. As born again believers, we HAVE the force of joy within us. This joy is a fruit of the born again spirit and when we stir it up, then we will appear to the world as God sees us, ever in the process of rejoicing! One of the ways that we accomplish this is by obeying verse 6:
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And the result of obeying verse 6? Verse 7:
7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
God's thoroughly supernatural PEACE (eireenee), which is the absence strife and stress and includes harmony and tranquility, is OURS when we practice verse 6! Cast out any and every thought that is contrary to peace and joy! GOD is not the Author of anything else! AMEN! The only way to properly live this out is to also make the choice to DO verses 8-9!
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
What a great instruction and exhortation for going full steam ahead into 2018! I hope that YOU will take this all to heart and DO the Word so that you can have the Word's results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Crown The Year":
Shalom in Him!
