Day 38 - 40 Days of JOY
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of JOY
Day 38 | JOYFUL HEART
40 Days of JOY
Day 38 | JOYFUL HEART
JOYFUL HEART
Ecclesiastes 9:7-8
“Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift.” (MSG)
The “teacher” (the author, Solomon) here in Ecclesiastes tells his audience that despite all the problems, difficulties, and futilities of life, we should find a way to ENJOY life! As you read these verses, you can’t help but feel that the author is telling us that though life is “precarious,” we can and should be JOYFUL and take pleasure when we can.
It’s an exciting focus given that much of life is a challenge and, as he says here, “precarious.”
Some translations – in place of “precarious” – use terms like “meaningless” (NIV) or “futile” (AMP), or “earthly toil” (NLT).
My take-away from this is: be joyful in life NOW – today – regardless of what’s happening. Find something which you can enjoy. Choose to NOT live all your days in distress, unhappiness, and misery.
The truth is that ever since Genesis 3, this world has been BROKEN. And today, we are living in a broken, sinful world that won’t be made NEW until Christ comes again (the “Second Coming”).
Then, the LORD will create a New Heaven and New Earth – as foretold to John in Revelation 21 and 22 – for us to enjoy forever!
So, let’s get practical. In the past 24 hours, have you done anything that brought you some JOY, as mentioned in these verses? Have you forgotten how to enjoy yourself? Re-read these verses and pause and ask God to show you how… again!
Prayer: LORD, I do want to ENJOY my days. I know this world is not perfect… but help me to find a way every day to experience the JOY that is available! Amen.
Ecclesiastes 9:7-8
“Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift.” (MSG)
The “teacher” (the author, Solomon) here in Ecclesiastes tells his audience that despite all the problems, difficulties, and futilities of life, we should find a way to ENJOY life! As you read these verses, you can’t help but feel that the author is telling us that though life is “precarious,” we can and should be JOYFUL and take pleasure when we can.
It’s an exciting focus given that much of life is a challenge and, as he says here, “precarious.”
Some translations – in place of “precarious” – use terms like “meaningless” (NIV) or “futile” (AMP), or “earthly toil” (NLT).
My take-away from this is: be joyful in life NOW – today – regardless of what’s happening. Find something which you can enjoy. Choose to NOT live all your days in distress, unhappiness, and misery.
The truth is that ever since Genesis 3, this world has been BROKEN. And today, we are living in a broken, sinful world that won’t be made NEW until Christ comes again (the “Second Coming”).
Then, the LORD will create a New Heaven and New Earth – as foretold to John in Revelation 21 and 22 – for us to enjoy forever!
So, let’s get practical. In the past 24 hours, have you done anything that brought you some JOY, as mentioned in these verses? Have you forgotten how to enjoy yourself? Re-read these verses and pause and ask God to show you how… again!
Prayer: LORD, I do want to ENJOY my days. I know this world is not perfect… but help me to find a way every day to experience the JOY that is available! Amen.
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