Joy Habakkuk 3:17-19 & Isaiah 12 Suggestions for Intercessory Prayer • Praise God that gladness is a fruit of righteousness. The hope of the righteous will be gladness. Prov. 10:28 • Praise God for the joy that it is found in His presence and in following Him. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps. 16:11 • Praise God that we can rejoice in our infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon us. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:9 • Pray that God will give you joy in your heart. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5:16-18 • Pray for someone who needs God’s joy in their heart. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Phil. 4:4 Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh. 8:10b • Pray that God will teach you to rejoice in trials. If you have any situation in mind, bring it before His throne. But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Pet. 4:13 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Ps. 30:5b • Pray for those who are persecuted, asking that God will give them joy in their hearts. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Ps. 126:6 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Ps. 5:11, 12 Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Rom. 12:12 • Pray for the young people of our church to find joy in following Christ. Lift up the young people of your church by name in prayer. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Ps. 105:3 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” Ps. 70:4 • Pray for heartfelt gratefulness for and full acceptance of the Spirit of Prophecy writings as being applicable today. Pray that church leaders and members read the materials on a regular basis. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Josh. 1:8 • Pray for increased emphasis on the wonderful doctrine of biblical creation—that our earth was created in six literal, consecutive days by the word of the Lord. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Heb. 11:1-3 • Mission to the Cities—Pray for the Inter-European Division and the cities they have chosen to work in: Geneva, Switzerland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Vienna, Austria. Lift up also the Middle East and North Africa Union and the 43 cities they are planning to enter in the next four to five years. Pray for the church members and leaders working in these cities. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1 Pet. 3:15 • Pray for any personal needs or anything else on your heart. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matt. 6:33 • Praise God that He already has an answer to your prayers. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isa. 65:24 At the end of prayer time you may want to form groups of two or three and pray for the seven people that you have on your list. Pray that they will have God’s joy in their hearts. Claim Psalm 40:16 for them: “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!’” If you have a personal prayer request that you are not comfortable praying about in the large group, feel free to share with your partner and pray about it together. Suggested Songs “Blessed Assurance” (SDA Hymnal #462); “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” (SDA Hymnal #470); “Joy By and By” (SDA Hymnal #430); “I Shall See the King” (SDA Hymnal #426); “Until Then” (SDA Hymnal #632).Ellen White on Joy But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy.—Gal. 5:22 Those who abide in Jesus will be happy, cheerful, and joyful in God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual and eternal things will be expressed in the actions, and music, joyful music, will echo from the lips; for it is wafted from the throne of God (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 625). The joy of Christ is a pure, unalloyed cheerfulness. It is not a cheap gaiety, that leads to vanity of words or lightness of conduct. No, we are to have His joy, and His greatest joy was to see men obeying the truth. . . . Plead with God, saying, “I make an entire surrender. I give myself away to Thee.” Then be joyful. The Word is in you, purifying and cleansing your character. God does not want His children to go about with anxiety and sorrow expressed in their faces. He wants the lovely expression of His countenance to be revealed in every one of us who are partakers of the divine nature; for we have power to escape the corruptions of the world. . . . We are not, because Christ died, left a company of orphans. . . . It is possible for us to obtain victory after victory, and be the most happy people on the face of the earth (Our High Calling, p. 148). Why should not our joy be full—full, lacking nothing? We have the assurance that Jesus is our Saviour, and that we may freely partake of the rich provision He has made for us. We may believe on Him, knowing that He will give us grace and power to do just as He bids us. He has given us every assurance that He will fulfill all that He has promised. It is our privilege to seek constantly the joy of His presence. He desires us to be cheerful and to be filled with praise to His name. He wants us to carry light in our countenances and joyin our hearts. We have a hope that is far above any pleasure the world can give; why should we not then be joyful? (Signs of the Times, Aug. 11, 1909, par. 4). Let us strive to educate the believers to rejoice in the Lord. Spiritual joy is the result of active faith. God’s people are to be full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Then He will be glorified in them (Bible Training School, April 1, 1905, par. 2). It is not what is around us, but what is in us; not what we have, but what we are, that makes us really happy. We want a cheerful fire on the altar of our own hearts; then we shall view everything in a happy, cheerful light. We may have the peace of Christ. . . . If we will be obedient, trustful in God, as a child in its simplicity trusts its earthly parents, we shall have peace—not the peace that the world gives, but that peace which Jesus gives. . . . Life, this life, has much brightness in it if we will gather the flowers and let the briers and thistles alone (In Heavenly Places, p. 245). Questions for Personal Reflection 1. Are you a joyful Christian? If not, what takes away your joy? Spend some time surrendering those things to God in prayer. Claim His promises to give you joy. Ask Him to give you a joyful heart. 2. Think of some things you can do that will help you to be joyful all the time. Make a plan and ask God to help you apply it in your life.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 13:54:32 +0000
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