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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
“The prayers go up and the blessings come down…” The words to this children’s song are only half right, because God sends his blessings many times even when we don’t pray. But just as we love the special smell that comes with a drought breaking rain, God loves the aroma of his children’s joy, especially when he is the source of its delight!
My Prayer…
Holy God and tender Father, you are my great delight. When all others fail, you are still God. You are my rock and fortress, you are my tender shepherd, and you are my solid mountain that cannot be shaken or moved. Your blessings and grace shower down upon me and fill me with joy. I can’t wait for the day I get to see you face to face and delight in your presence forever. Until then, I will rejoice in anticipation. In Jesus’ glorious name I pray. Amen.
Bible References
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Joel 2:23
Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you a teacher for righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
The people of Judah had been unrepentant toward God so an army of locust had destroyed their crops and enemy nations had marched on them devastating their land. In verse 13 of this chapter the Lord asks them to render their hearts and return to Him so that they may experience His great compassion, grace, and caring again. God will take pity on His people (vs. 18), and drive their enemies far from them (vs.20).
Sounds like a good idea to me! RENDER your hearts to God and receive untold blessings. It is pretty easy for us to cast judgement on Judah for their disobedience isn’t it? But you see this is just as appropriate for us today. While we may not actually be devastated by locusts, an unrepentant, disobedient heart toward God will have devastating effects upon our life. God loves a humble and a contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15), and we will be abundantly blessed for turning from arrogance and rebellion, and rendering or submitting our hearts to the God of the universe who loves us so much!
From the very beginning of time, God has wanted the heart of mankind. That is why He created us with a free will, instead of just making us robots who had to worship and obey Him. He wanted us to choose to follow Him because of our love for Him. And He has every right to expect us to do so, for He is our Creator, Savior, and Friend.
He is our loving Father who takes good care of His children. When we place our faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, His one and only Son for the forgiveness of our sins (Romans 3:25), we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16-17), and share in all the privileges that come from calling Him Abba (daddy) Father.
Father God, I love You so and I thank You for loving me. Help me to live my life in ways that are pleasing to You and that show my love and commitment to You. For Your glory and honor Lord God, Amen!