January 1, 2023 … Let’s Rejoice!! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 1 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, Rend Collective singing  … Joy of the Lord … poignantly and powerfully singing of how Christians must choose to praise God - WITH JOY - … yes even in the midst of trials and troubles. 

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Highlight Passage: … Philippians 4:4 [NLT] …  

4 ALWAYS be full of joy in the Lord.  I say again - REJOICE!  

…Paul, from prison in Rome, exhorts fellow Christians in Philippi, to REJOICE … ALWAYS, not matter what we might face in life because of the promise of Christ coming again.                                                                             

Highlight Passage (Context): … Philippians 1:12—21, 4:4 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… In spite being in jail with the threat of death, the Apostle Paul preached to fellow Christians that he - and we - must choose to rejoice in the promises of what the Gospel meant for all who trust in Christ’s coming again.                                                                                                          

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 94:18-19 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalmist chooses the hope of the Lord in the midst of his doubts. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:3-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul shows fellow Christians that all born-again Christians can rejoice in spite of problems and trials, trusting that our God, Who loves us, will give us hope and His grace.  

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 12:9-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… In the midst of pain and suffering, Paull shows fellow Christians that God’s empowering grace was all he needed (and we need) to provide the strength to even rejoice in the suffering.   

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:24 [NLT] … 

24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for His body, the church.. 

… Paul confidently expresses his gladness to suffer for the sake of Christ.    

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:12-13 [NLT] … 

12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad — for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. 

…Peter, writing to persecuted Christians, charges them (and us) to BE GKAD that we can be joined with Christ in suffering for His glory.   

                                                                             

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread< author, Mike Wittmer … AT THIS LINK …   tells of a friend, Keith,  shopping in a grocery story and feeling down, having just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, … yet encountering a father, pushing his boy in a wheelchair,… the boy being much worse off than Keith, yet laughing and sharing joy with his father.  

And the scenario from this ODB entry caused me to recognize that in spite of my current ailments and difficulties, I need to take in the truth of the linked song and the Scriptures shared above,  and to CHOOSE JOY as I move into this new year.  

As Paul and Peter write (see God’s word above), … no matter what we face, … in our trusting relationship with Christ, … we can - and WE MUST -  choose to languish in the grace and power provided by the hope we have in Christ, … Who will one day come to bring His chosen ones to be with Him forever in our heavenly home.  

So, … as we move into this NEW YEAR, … no matter what we’re facing now…let’s rejoice !!!      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your enabling grace which gives me Your Joy into this new year.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to find Your joy, Lord, … as we encounter the many challenges we’ll face in this new year.         Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.