You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
These words are taken from a Psalm [Psalm 4] of David when he gave an account of his own experiences of the grace of God working in him, filling his heart with joy. He had prayed that God will answer his prayer and relieve him of distress. He compared the joy God had given him to the joy of those who had abundant harvest of grain and new wine. The latter joy is a joy dependent on harvest, on substance and material things. The kind of joy God had given him was refreshing, sustaining, though at that time his life was difficult and filled with distress.
Your Loving Father wants you to experience true joy. Joy is a gift from God, a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it is not dependent on circumstances in your life. It cannot be got by material things. It is something that nothing and no one can take away from you. The world may give promises of happiness but it does not satisfy like the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord strengthens and gives hope.
As you talk to your Father today and make your requests know to Him, may you receive His joy. May your testimony be that "Father, you have given me greater joy, more than those who have abundance of harvest". Your Loving Father loves you and cares for you. His love is unfailing, everlasting and unshakeable. You do not need to envy the happiness the world seems to offer but rest in the love of God, and the unspeakable joy He gives.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You that I have You and true joy comes from You. I pray that I will continue to know true joy, the joy that only You can bring into my life. I pray for a continual filling of Your Spirit that I may experience Your joy in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Apr. 12 2010 - 2 Samuel 7-12 (OT).
Suggested Prayer Point for yourself - Pray for your relationship with loved ones like a spouse, a fiance, or a very close friend. Pray that your relationship will built with time. Pray that God will teach you how to show love and minister to such person(s).
Suggested General Prayer Point - Pray for the families of missionaries. Pray that they will be supportive of what the missionaries are doing. Pray for their guidance and protection.
God's Love and Mine...
