Last week I wrote about the discipline I’m starting for reading the Bible. I came across three verses about gladness which happens to be my word for this week. Gladness is closely related to joy and gratefulness. Evidence of gladness is a smile on your face.
Our first Bible verse talks about gladness in the book of Psalms:
Psalm 30:12-13
“You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks.”
Do you know that feeling? —When your mourning turns into dancing?Now not many people even know what sackcloth is, but it was a garment so scratchy, you were glad to get it off! (Think about a tag on the back of your shirt that just keeps scratching and poking the back of your neck. You are glad when you cut that baby off!)
How are you doing during this pandemic? Do you have gladness in spite of all the craziness going on in life? Can you find something to be glad about? Take your eyes off your problems and the craziness and just focus on Jesus. Sometimes we forget that there is a better place for us after all this stuff. We are here to learn something, be something and do something in this crazy life that we live. It’s not just for our families, or ourselves but for the glory of God! When you realize that, it all starts to make sense.
Let’s take the focus off of everything going on around us and focus on Christ. The world needs some Jesus right now. He is moving in, around and through us every day. Do you feel Him? He is the gladness within your soul.
Psalm 32:11
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright in heart.”
So it sounds like the just and upright have got it made! But what about the rest of us? Well, that’s what this blog is about. I want everyone to be glad, rejoice and shout for joy. That sounds like living life to the fullest to me.
It’s what I want and I want it for you, too. My hope is that one of these blog posts will spark some interest or you will find something written here that will help you to do your own research and seek God with your own heart. Because He is waiting for us in between the lines, watching and waiting for our return. We always hear people talk about Jesus’s “return”. The fact of the matter is, chances are pretty good we will “return” before He ever makes it here.
Here’s one more verse from Matthew 5:12
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Do you feel persecuted? When you read about all the crazy stuff going on in this world, don’t lose heart. Be glad. Put a smile on your face. Be grateful when your eyes open up in the morning. There are great rewards waiting for us in heaven. Just make sure that’s where you’re headed. If you aren’t sure, pick up a Bible. Read the Gospels. Get to know Christ. The Psalms are great for prayers too. —-Be glad!
God bless!—Barb
*All verses taken from the New American Bible.
