Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Psalms 32: 8-11

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you. Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

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Reflect

Joy Unspeakable

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

The words, written by Barney E. Warren in 1900, remain among my favorite. Mt. Carmel, my small CP church, regularly sang them and by the age of 10, I had successfully learned the piano accompaniment for congregational singing. However, it was years before I related to the words of Joy Unspeakable.

During those days my grandparents, who never owned an ‘auty-mo-beel’, came to church in a horse-drawn wagon, Ole Spot and Ole Maude providing the power. Without a hitching post, the team patiently waited for services to end. Then children would pile in the wagon for a ride around the churchyard before Grandpa turned their heads toward home.

Simple days of childhood when I scarcely thought of sin and the gulf created between God and me. I loved the song but didn’t begin to comprehend the ‘wondrous blessing’ or ‘great o’erflowing well’ of joy His grace brought. Grandpa and Ole Spot taught me about the purpose of a bit and bridle, but I didn’t draw a parallel to my life of obstinance. At least not until the harvest of rebellious seeds came later in life. A season of humbling followed, after which I experienced a fullness of joy and peace that no tongue could tell. It replaced cravings for selfish pleasure and allowed the living water of God’s Word to spring up within my soul.

It is not God’s desire that we suffer the consequences of sin. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. …steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” Draw near to God and experience joy unspeakable.

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Pray

Dear Lord, Savior and Redeemer, thank you for the great blessing of grace. I rejoice, taking comfort in Your love and protection! In Jesus name, Amen

Go with God!