This is our prayer for you: “May the God of hope FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE as you (soon will) trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW WITH HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13) I thank you Abba Father that we can ALWAYS trust in you for our redemption!! “May integrity and uprightness (honesty) protect me, because MY HOPE, LORD, IS IN YOU.” (Psa. 25:21) When our hope is in the Lord, we will be anchored in joy! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD…As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish…so is my word that goes out from my mouth…It will not return to me empty…YOU WILL GO OUT IN JOY AND BE LED FORTH IN PEACE; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isa. 55:8-12) When you become totally submitted to the Lord He will causes nature to respond! Your Abba Father loves your obedience, just listen for the beautiful sounds! “For the kingdom of God is…RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way IS PLEASING TO GOD AND RECEIVES HUMAN APPROVAL.” (Rom. 14:17-18) Not only do we please the Lord, but the people in our lives are blessed as well BY OUR OBEDIENCE! “…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD AND PLEASE HIM IN EVERY WAY:
- BEARING fruit in every good work,
- GROWING in the knowledge of God,
- BEING STRENGTHENED with all power according to his glorious might SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE GREAT ENDURANCE AND PATIENCE, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has QUALIFIED YOU TO SHARE in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Col. 1:9-12)
We must bear fruit so we will grow in the knowledge of our Abba Father and be strengthened with His power! “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIVES IN HIM, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS.” (Col. 2:6-7)
WE MUST CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD AND PLEASE HIM IN EVERY WAY!
-Bill Stockham