Happy Monday!
Hear me, O LORD, and have mercy; O LORD, be my helper.” You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.…
Psalm 30:10-12
Ann and I are always being reminded that we could have had God’s joy the whole time we lived in Oregon. And God continues to remind us of that fact each day. What a wonderful, loving God we have.
Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11
Sometimes, people look at me like they’re frustrated and mad at me for believing and telling them about Romans 8:28.
Ann and I know that until we believed and stood on Romans 8:28, we weren’t really happy. I know that for me, my mind, emotions and spirit didn’t really “feel” redeemed by my Lord until I began to believe Romans 8:28. I was always the victim of defeating circumstances, and constantly wrestling with self-pity and discouragement.
Through Romans 8:28, Jesus redeemed my life – that I thought was full of mistakes and negative circumstances – from destruction.
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Psalm 103:4
And, because He’s had a plan for my life, all along, He’s helped me to be a victor and to have victory over life’s situations by truly knowing that He was capable of turning them into blessings in my life.
I know people aren’t mad at me for Romans 8:28. Like I was before I started believing in the truth of Romans 8:28, they’re upset about their lives, and really, they’re upset with God because He’s the One Who wrote Romans 8:28, not me. It’s my hope that they’ll believe Romans 8:28 and receive the great peace and joy that verse can give them. God meant Romans 8:28 to be a blessing, not a frustration. Thank You, Jesus.
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Stay with God. He’s got a plan and He’s working it. He wants to redeem your whole life through believing Romans 8:28. Believe it and see God turn your heart, faith and life around!
They shall obtain gladness and joy…
God bless,
Mark