40 MORE DAYS OF JOY - 34

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 MORE Days of Happiness and Joy
Day 34 | HAPPINESS AND JOY
HAPPINESS AND JOY

Isaiah 35:10
“Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.”
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Have you ever experienced a restoration of some kind? Perhaps something – maybe a relationship – was broken or gone, and somehow – probably with God’s help – it got fixed and brought back together.

Consider that that’s what was happening to the children of Israel here in Isaiah 35.

This prophecy of Isaiah’s mentions the “Highway of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8, a phrase found only here in all of Scripture.) That “highway” referred to a way of holiness to be used by the righteous. Plus, it was a place of safety reserved for the Lord’s redeemed. Then, finally, it was a way of happiness and joy.

Consider the ransomed captives of Babylon returning joyfully and happily, shouting praises to their God and watching their grief and suffering disappear after 70 long years away from their homes and country.

Some scholars also see this chapter as prophetic of the millennial kingdom in which we, too – like the children of Israel – will happily shout and be full of JOY!

Let me ask, do YOU ever celebrate the goodness that the LORD has poured out on you? I know some do, as I often hear from church members who are JOYFUL and HAPPY about some answers to prayers!
 
But it’s also been my observation that many don’t celebrate the blessings that come their way. Maybe it’s because we’ve come to expect good things, but I hope we never become so complacent that we don’t ENJOY the blessings, experience happiness and joy in the LORD, and then TELL HIM how happy we are in Him.

Prayer: LORD, thank YOU for all the blessings you pour on me; I am FULL of joy! Amen.
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