This Storm

   Psalms 3 shows us that although your enemies-those who loudly reject the LORD's name and pressure you to do so as well-are all around you and try to tell you that God won't deliver you from your circumstance, find peace knowing that He answers your prayers. He is strong, and will shield you against them. He gives you life and lets you wake. He is God indeed.

   Also, in Psalm 69, David calls out to the LORD for help. We, too, can present our struggles and lift up our needs to Him; He will surely save us. We're called to seek Him against all odds. If we endure through trials and hardships He won't let us sink.

   God knows what's going on in our lives because He is our GOOD father. He desires a personal relationship with us, so we should draw near to Him even in our times of trial. Praise Him because He is our comfort.

   Here's a song that really helps when you're struggling with finding ways to praise God throughout trials. I hope you check it out! God Bless!

Joy vs. Happiness

 Everybody wants happiness. However, do you really know the difference between having happiness and having joy?

 Happiness is only a state, a temporary emotion that comes about under certain circumstances. Joy, on the flip side, is eternal, unchanging, and unconditional. You can have joy in times of peace, and joy in times of trial.

 So how does one go about obtaining said joy? To understand that, we should first go back and understand exactly what is most important in life: following Christ. If you read through the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, presents a constant theme. He says everything is meaningless except for chasing after the LORD.  Luckily for us, Solomon also writes in Proverbs 10:28 that following God's will naturally brings about joy. So, by doing what is pleasing to God, you will also get what you really desire. In addition, David shows us that if you don't have joy, you can ask the LORD for it (Psalms 4:7) and He will provide.

 But how can having joy help your witness? This goes back to my opening statement. Everybody longs for joy, so if non-believers see that you have something eternal, they'll want to be a part of that. A part of them knows that they'll never be satisfied with their way of life, because if you only have happiness you'll constantly have to keep filling up that Jesus-shaped void in your heart with something new. I don't know about you, but quite frankly that sounds exhausting.

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph- also wrote Psalms 50, 74-83
Also in (2 Chronicles 5:12)

Envious and Angry. Why do the ungodly prosper?
Why doesn't God clearly reward the faithful and definitely punish the wicked?

Instead, it seems that rebellious living reaps rewards!

v 3 prosperity of the perverse

v 13 "in vain" why am I living right?

v 17 because I understand their (the wicked people's) final destiny

Asaph's forgetting this led to envy and anger.

Realize success is temporary

Rebellious living reaps RUIN!

Ungodly are successful for now, but God has the last word.

Righteous living reaps rewards! (v 23)

verse 26 strength="Rock"


God's presence is:

constant when you are weak (v26)
guiding when you are confused (v24)
immediate when you die (v24)

Reward or ruin, just give me Jesus.