DCLM Sincere Milk 18 July 2024 — Joyful Heart
DCLM Sincere Milk 18 July 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Joyful Heart
Topic: Joyful Heart
Text: Psalm 35:9-16
9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Key Verse: “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9
Message
Although Larry was from a rich home and possessed a lot of toys, surprisingly, he was only happy when he gets new toys, gifts and things happened the way he wanted. Most times he felt lonely, unhappy and deserted. Unlike joy that comes from within, happiness comes from without. It comes when some “nice” things (not necessarily right things) happen or when things go the way we want. Joy is greater than happiness. It is rooted in Christ and comes from within.
Also Read: DCLM Sincere Milk 17 June 2024 — Greater Than My Iniquities
Joyful heart does not mean laughing all the time or jumping up and down. It is there even when things are difficult. A child that is wrongly punished for accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour is joyful because he knows that Jesus will not leave him or forsake him.
Do you want to have a joyful heart? It begins with turning away from sin and accepting and believing in Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. To continue to have a joyful heart, you must look away from challenges and look up to Jesus with assurance that He is in control and that He cares for you.
Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 7:4-7
Prayer for today: Dear Father, please help me to look up to you in faith and look beyond temporary challenges.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
