Choose Joy - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 16, 2021

Those of you who have participated in Praise & Pray for a while may recall a reference to the Hebrew Calendar. The last time was in December 2020 (Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) December 8, 2020).

As I study the Bible, I continue to see significant correlations between the events of the past, the time periods they occurred in, and the events of today. Yes, this type of thing is interesting to me.

And for the past two years, I have paid attention to the Hebrew month called Adar (February-March in the Roman calendar). The word means strength and is a month to be joyful.

Nehemiah 8:10 states - Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This is a month to choose the Lord's joy no matter what the world throws at you. And we all know, the world stays throwing stuff at us. Is it that unexpected bill? News that a friend/relative fell ill? Your boss giving you a hard time at work? Or was there a troubling health diagnosis for yourself or someone you care about?

It seems as if there's always something to worry about. And yet, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Rejoice always. And in Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

How exactly are we to rejoice when everything we see around us weighs our hearts down and robs us of a reason to be happy and thankful?

By taking our minds off our circumstances and keeping our attention on God.

We've got to choose joy, even in the darkest moments. We have to lift our eyes up to God and say 'thank you' when we remember the good He's done for us and others. We've got to search the word for His promises. At the very least, one of them is Philippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

I often recite Psalm 16:8 to myself when things are rocky. It states, I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Hope you'll join me today for Praise & Pray for others with joy in your heart. Fight the enemy's plot to steal your joy and inundate you with misery by holding on to and protecting that place in your spirit that contains a river of joy. We'll praise & worship the Lord and act as intercessors for others in need before spending ten minutes however the Lord leads.

Glory be to God and may He bless you!