In recent days I've prayed to the Lord for greater joy and peace. After all this was my birthday week and I had anticipated a day filled with fun activities and making great memories. And it was nice. Many friends and loved ones sent thoughtful greetings and I was treated to lunch at one of my favorite Indian buffets then on to a full-body acupressure massage and pedicure - aaaah. However, at the end of the day, as I laid down to sleep, I felt a twinge of sadness and had to ask myself, "Hmm, what is this about?" After all having a play-date with my friend enjoying a vacation day with pay!
In the morning though the feelings returned and so I prayed to the Lord about them. I poured myself my favorite flavored coffee and turned on my most loved praise playlist but by mid-afternoon I had to step away from my desk. I just couldn't shake it off and needed to intercede on my own behalf and boldly asked the Father for an anointing of happiness. I wasn't even sure if one could ask for such a thing because I know Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world." So I decided to be a big girl and to just get over it! Still, I hoped I wasn't asking for too much. However, it was at that sincere point of prayer that an anointing of strength and peace entered my mind and spirit and it became clear to me, for the first time, that joy is one of the gifts of the Spirit given to us by the Lord. Amen!
Now I know about the gifts of tongues, of healing, and of eternal life. We have learned and know that it was by the Holy Spirit that Jesus rose from the grave and that that same Spirit that now lives and in resides in us who are Believers. It's just that it is news to me that there is actually a gift of the Spirit - or an anointing - to free us from sad feelings. It is called the Oil of Gladness.
In Charles Spurgeon's article, The Oil of Gladness, I read, "The divine Spirit has many attributes, and his benign influences operate in divers ways, bestowing upon us benefits of various kinds, too numerous for us to attempt to catalogue them. Amongst these is his comforting and cheering influence. "The fruit of the Spirit is joy." In Acts 13:52 we read, "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." Wherever he comes as an anointing, whether upon the Lord or upon his people, upon the Christ or the Christians, upon the Anointed or upon those whom he anoints, in every case the ultimate result is joy and peace. On the head of our great High Priest he is joy, and this oil of gladness flows down to the skirts of his garments. To the Comforter, therefore, we ascribe "the oil of gladness."
Wow, how awesome! We shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. His Word is the Sword of the Spirit and I take it to wield at the very root of those feelings. Thank you Lord for I have received the best birthday gift of all!
"THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,"
Isaiah 61:1
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. That is why God, your God, anointed you rather than your companions with the oil of gladness
Hebrews 1:9
Charles Spurgeon 'The Oil of Gladness'
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Satisfying
Question. Have you ever been to a new restaurant and found you were not able to make a decision on what to order - you know, what you'd be satisfied with? Heads up, I'm that one! I've tarried long over menus finding it hard to decide. For example, I discovered a new restaurant the other day called 'Lemonade'. After seeing all the choices and checking out the menu for quite a while, it was hard to decide. Everything looked so good! I gazed at the display of items and asked a few questions, but was still unable to choose what to order. I was unsure of what I would eventually like. I finally settled on a few items and they tasted fine but after all was said and done (or eaten!) I wasn't completely satisfied and knew the next time I came I would order something new.
Thinking about it I find it it's been that way in life! As I searched for the will of God for me and as I worked at this job or that; taking a class or signing up for some new training, over time I found that even though I had grown and learned new things, I was not quite satisfied with what I had 'ordered' and eventually decided to change course. All the while in the back of my mind hoping that I wasn't overlooking some great opportunity or missing my 'appointed time'.
However I was always on course. All the things I've done, everything I've experienced and everything I have learned - and most importantly every prayer that I have been praying and the grace God has been showing me is bringing me to an appointed time. You see every step I have taken has been ordered by the Lord, and has been bringing me closer to what He wants to do in and through me. Amen!
So as we are continuing to seek His will, listening to His Holy Spirit and praying consistently in line for where He's leading us, Jesus is confirming exactly what to do and the results will be increasingly satisfying. How good is to know that we are in the will of God and to know that our efforts are in step with His Spirit and we are moving in the right direction!
So I'm encouraged! Even though 'I' didn't know in the past what to ask for in prayer or what to do for my life, the Lord has always been right here, ordering for me, making sure my joy will be full and the will of the Father be done. Hallelujah!
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 NIV
“The very steps we take come from GOD; otherwise how would we know where we’re going?”
Proverbs 20:24 MSG
“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].”
Psalm 37:23 AMP
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 AMP
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3 NASB
Thinking about it I find it it's been that way in life! As I searched for the will of God for me and as I worked at this job or that; taking a class or signing up for some new training, over time I found that even though I had grown and learned new things, I was not quite satisfied with what I had 'ordered' and eventually decided to change course. All the while in the back of my mind hoping that I wasn't overlooking some great opportunity or missing my 'appointed time'.
However I was always on course. All the things I've done, everything I've experienced and everything I have learned - and most importantly every prayer that I have been praying and the grace God has been showing me is bringing me to an appointed time. You see every step I have taken has been ordered by the Lord, and has been bringing me closer to what He wants to do in and through me. Amen!
So as we are continuing to seek His will, listening to His Holy Spirit and praying consistently in line for where He's leading us, Jesus is confirming exactly what to do and the results will be increasingly satisfying. How good is to know that we are in the will of God and to know that our efforts are in step with His Spirit and we are moving in the right direction!
So I'm encouraged! Even though 'I' didn't know in the past what to ask for in prayer or what to do for my life, the Lord has always been right here, ordering for me, making sure my joy will be full and the will of the Father be done. Hallelujah!
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 NIV
“The very steps we take come from GOD; otherwise how would we know where we’re going?”
Proverbs 20:24 MSG
“The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].”
Psalm 37:23 AMP
“And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 AMP
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3 NASB
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