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Psalm 126:5-6
5 
Those who sow their tears as seeds [a sacrifice]
will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.
6 
They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow,
but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness
as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!

God is always busy restoring life and bringing redemption even when we don’t see or understand his work. In the will and name of Yeshua bodies heal, broken bones heal, relationships heal, and broken and grieving hearts heal. Sometimes our tears become the very seeds God uses to bring salvation and righteous restoration to us and our neighbors. In our connectedness, we share many experiences. We may cry for a while, but then God brings good out of something bad and we are able to find abiding joy once again.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds the Israelite exiles that returned to Jerusalem about the restoration and joy they experienced in Yahweh after years of captivity. We should never forget our God’s faithfulness to us. It is his faithfulness that should inspire our faithful obedience to him. If you are going through a rough time this holiday season, please be patient and hold on to your faith in God’s restorative plan. Be willing to sow your tears in the fertile ground of his love and look for a harvest of good things. He has promised an abundance of blessing for you. He knows how to love you, your neighbors, and his world. May joy be on its way to your heart.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing good out of the challenging times in life. I’m trading my sorrows for your joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 27:5-6
In his shelter in the day of trouble, that’s where you’ll find me,
for he hides me there in his holiness.
He has smuggled me into his secret place,
where I’m kept safe and secure—
out of reach from all my enemies.
Triumphant now, I’ll bring him my offerings of praise,
singing and shouting with ecstatic joy!
Yes, listen and you can hear
the fanfare of my shouts of praise to the Lord!

My husband, John, and I did some hiking with our family on the Appalachian Trail during our vacation to the Smokey Mountain National Park last month. Approximately three-quarters of the way up from Newfound Gap toward Charlie’s Bunion (planned destination) I noticed a sign directing hikers to a “shelter.” I was curious, so I left the Trail and checked it out. This shelter is a bit hidden off from the main Trail; a small roofed yet primitive three walled structure with a canvas curtain that becomes its fourth wall. The purpose of the shelter is to provide a place for male and female hikers to spend the night out of the extreme elements, as well as protect them from bears or other animals looking for food. Now, honestly, I am not sure how that canvas curtain is going to stop any curious or hungry bears looking for food (or scavenging rats/mice for that matter), but nonetheless that is the “shelter.” As I studied the shelter, I asked myself, “Would I feel safe and secure staying here?”

In our passage today, David speaks about a shelter, but it is not a primitive physical structure. He is talking about the presence of the Lord who has become his Shelter of love and care. David is overcome with praise and filled with joy by how the Lord shelters him in His glorious presence. We, too, can know true holiness, safety, and security as we stay in the presence of our Shelter. Truly, in the Shelter of my Almighty Savior, I do feel safe, secure, and never hesitate to stay there!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sheltering me in your presence. I need you to keep me and my loved ones safe and secure! I am filled with joy because I know you alone are faithful. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 27:4-6

4 
Here’s the one thing I crave from God,
the one thing I seek above all else:
I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, [in his presence]
finding the sweet loveliness of his face,
filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace.
I want to live my life so close to him
that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.

I really enjoy the season of baking and cooking that precedes our Christmas celebrations. The Haleys find joy in delicious food, some sweet and special baked goods, and family time. But, if we cannot enjoy any of these meaningful things, will we still celebrate the joy of Christmas? Absolutely!

David teaches us all about priorities and cravings, today. One thing he asks and seeks from God; it is the most important craving he has in this world. He wants to be near God, because he knows God loves him with a perfect love and will take care of him while he is the world. David realizes God is the Source of true Joy! May we be filled with such cravings!

Prayer: Lord, I crave your presence above all things. Please fill me with the joy of my salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Isaiah 26:12 TPT

12 
Lord Yahweh, you will establish peace and prosperity for us,
    for all we have accomplished is the result
    of what you work through us.

In our passage today, Isaiah reminds God’s people of the amazing love of God extended to humble hearts; he establishes us in peace and prosperity. Spiritual prosperity is God’s way of meeting our needs from his unlimited resources. He knows what we need, as well as what we do not. He knows when to bless us and when to withhold certain things in order to help us grow in Christlikeness. Every good thing in our lives is a result of God’s love and grace—unmerited favor.

The apostle Paul shares a similar message in Ephesians Chapter 2, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (vv. 8-10).

Prayer: Lord, I want to thank you for establishing me in peace and prosperity. I am learning all the time how to stay in your Kingdom shalom where I can receive your tender care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 85:10-11
10 
Unfailing love and truth have met on their way;
    righteousness and peace have kissed one another.
11 
Truth will spring from the earth like a plant,
    and justice will look down from the sky.

God’s loyal love and truth joined in the act of salvation to bring restoration to the human soul. Think for a minute about the qualities of Father God’s care for his children. He offers us love, truth, righteousness and peace; all the beauty of God’s Kingdom is made available to us in Christ. It is the work of righteousness to make us ready and prepared for Christ’s Second Coming.

In ancient culture a kiss was a fairly common form of greeting. In our passage today, righteousness and peace kiss like two friends who had been separated from one another for a very long time. Because of the righteous sacrifice of Christ to die for our sins, we are reunited and connected in peace with God. This understanding should fill every heart with joy!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing righteousness to prepare my soul for your return. May I embrace all that you offer in your love, truth, righteousness, and peace, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 85:8-9
8
Now I’ll listen carefully for your voice
and wait to hear whatever you say.
Let me hear your promise of peace—
the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear.
Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you.
9 
For I know your power and presence shines on all your lovers.
Your glory always hovers over all who bow low before you.

For those of us who will wait and listen in hope, the Lord speaks peace to our hearts. I cannot answer for you; however, for me personally I need supernatural peace to be imparted to me all the time. Life can be so unsettling and seem far from orderly. The Apostle Paul tells believers in Ephesus that before they were born again from above in Christ, they were hopelessly stranded without God in a fractured world (Eph. 2:12). Now, as believers, we do not live without hope and are welcomed into a life of peace with God even though we still live in that fractured world.

The Lord’s peace in my heart strengthens and sustains me. It assures me the Lord rules creation and has my whole life in his hands as I follow his direction. The peace of God offers me a higher spiritual perspective; a heavenly reality for my mind, will, and emotions to experience. When the Prince of Peace is ruling in my heart, I have Kingdom vision and joy. In the peace of God, I look for ways to serve the One I love. God’s Kingdom of peace may seem very upside down when compared to the world’s system, but we need to allow the Spirit to open our eyes to see just how “right side up or righteous” in the power of God believers can live.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping me wait in hope, listen to your direction, and welcome your supernatural and righteous way to wholeness into my life. I bow to your power and trust in your promise of peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 21:34-36 A Warning
34 Don’t spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you 35 like a trap. That day will surprise everyone on earth. 36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.

Jesus wants you to stay in peace; he left us Kingdom peace because he is Yahweh Shalom (John 14:27). We have peace and fulfillment with God, because of our relationship with Jesus—the Prince of Peace. In English, the word “peace” conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root “slm,” which means “to be complete” or “to be sound.” The verb conveys “to be complete or whole” or “to live well.”

In our passage today, Jesus shares a warning with his disciples. He wants believers to guard their souls (mind/will/emotions) and hold onto Shalom so they will be ready for his Second Advent or Coming. He condemns the world’s response and interpretation to what it means “to live well:” to eat, drink, and worry (to think only of temporal or worldly peace and fulfillment). Then, he tells the disciples how to escape the horrors that precede the Day of the Lord and his return.

This Word guides me to understand a time is coming when true peace and fulfillment will evade unbelievers. No human being can fix the hearts of humanity, so true and lasting peace will never be manifest apart from the rule of the Lord. And, true and lasting fulfillment is not possible unless we are living for God’s pleasure and according to his commands of love. So, what do we need to remember? Watch and be prepared for those times that will most certainly come. Pray and ask God to bring his faith and power to you in order to help you live in an unsettled time as a citizen of his eternal kingdom: in his righteousness, in his peace, and in the joy of the Holy Spirit. Remember, this is God’s provision that will bring victory. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leaving with me the peace that passes all understanding. I will allow peace to be my umpire and guide my life. Help me to live this Word, Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 15:4
4 Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so that we can live in hope and endure all things.

I once heard the Bible described as a manual of righteousness for believers: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Do you see the Bible as instructions for your life with God? In our passage today, the Apostle Paul wants believers to understand the value of all Scripture; it is a revelation of our holy God’s heart. If we want to know how God feels about us and gain wisdom for how we are to live our lives as a creation made in his image, we will read all of Scripture and allow the Spirit of God to bring us understanding. The Scriptures teach us how to endure and be victorious even in difficult times. Our hope for victory in this life must be placed in the provision and power of the Lord. In Christ, we place our hope—confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment—knowing as we follow the Word and listen to the Spirit we are doing what is right before Father God.

Prayer: Lord, I place my hope in your love for me knowing you have promised to provide for my every need and will never withhold any good thing from me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1:3-6 (MSG)
3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
4-6 Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

It is always exciting to hear people share their testimonies about the miracles they have experienced in their relationship with Christ and the work of his grace for salvation. When God moves in our behalf and brings miraculous results it is completely inspiring to our faith. We light up on the outside; our countenance glows with his glory. We radiate the love of God and people notice.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers at Corinth (and believers throughout time) that although outward experiences with our miracle-working God are amazing, those experiences are minimal in comparison to the miracle of salvation and the work God has done “in” us. In your spirit, you are whole and perfectly glorious. This miracle makes it possible for Christ to live within us; he creates his own environment perfect because he is perfect. On outside, however, we are following the Spirit who helps and teaches us to live as Christ. Some days we live quite imperfectly, but we press on by faith and trust in God’s power to finish his miraculous work of salvation. May the evidence of Christ’s presence in us be verified in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the miracle of salvation and for working in my life those things that are pleasing to you. Help me stay the course. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Judges 2:16-23

The Lord Rescues His People

16 Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. 17 Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.

18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

20 So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, 21 I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. 22 I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” 23 That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

According to Judges Chapter 1, Israel is suffering a moral downfall; people are doing what seems right in their own eyes. Before his death, Joshua kept Israel focused on God, but the people failed to grasp it was never about Joshua it was really God in command.  Israel’s disobedience has led them to rebel against God causing them to be overrun by enemy nations.  

During this time, Israel experiences no unity in government and no unity in worship.  Law and order has broken down and idolatry has caused people to abandon their faith in God.  Canaanite pagan worship has been able to lure God’s people away from their devotion to Yahweh, because according to this idolatrous religion, they can remain selfish and immoral and yet fulfill their religious requirements.  God never leads us to focus on the benefits of our sinful human nature. In fact, we are to lay our lives down, so we can pick up the life of Christ. Be like Joshua and keep your eyes focused on God, because he is really the One in command; He is the true Judge of human hearts.

Prayer:  Lord, may we as your children turn to love you wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.