Morning Devotional 090621 Joy Returns in the Morning

Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room

September 6, 2021

Read Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have access by faith to this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory. 3 But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Good Morning! Rejoice! Rejoice! Again I say rejoice!

This passage takes me back to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us three areas where we can know God's will: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

So God's will for all His people in every circumstance is to rejoice, to pray and to give thanks. Again, following God is that simple, but as we know, simple doesn’t always mean easy. It is easy to praise God when everything in our lives is going as we wish, but so much harder when we are challenged with everyday problems.

God does not create or place obstacles in our lives. God gives us the support we need to overcome our challenges. Let’s start with an easy example. What if you go out to start your car and your battery is dead? We could be angry which makes finding that solution difficult, or we could take a moment to rejoice, pray, and give thanks as we are thinking of a solution. What if in the effort of finding someone who can help start your battery, you encounter a “lost” child of God with whom you can bring some light to an otherwise dark day? Hallelujah for unexpected opportunities to serve God.

Bigger challenges are when we face health problems, especially those that are life changing. Our mindset and our heartset (I think I just made that word up, but it fits) are the most important parts of future lives when it appears that all is lost. We can sit down and fret and say “Woe is me”, or we can rejoice, pray, and give thanks to all the good things in our lives. God will support us through the medical challenges, but if we can approach each day with joy and thanks in our hearts, we have won the battle.

God's word and God's will does not change even though our circumstances certainly do. Judith Snowdon wrote a beautiful song, Joy Returns in the Morning.

My child I see your suffering, I Know the Pain You Bear.

I walked the road of suffering, and in your grief I share.

I was despised, rejected, afflicted with shame and despair

Yes, all your worries I’ve carried to the cross and laid them there.

And Joy returns in the morning, the tears of sadness and pain from the night fade away.

And Joy returns in the morning, as the sun breaks through the darkness

With hope for a brand new day.

Loving God, Thank You for loving us. I rejoice in you, I pray at all times, and I give thanks to everything in your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Look for the joy in each moment of every day!

Joy Returns in the Morning! Pastor Liz