Joey's Journal - September 3, 2006

Gracious Father, I commit to You all my thoughts, works, joys and sufferings of this day. May they be pleasing and acceptable to You. I give thanks and praise for Your protection and provision for my family. Also, pray for continued guidance to be on my family as we live Your life of goodness and kindness towards our neighbor. May You always be in our sights to remind us of Your love and compassion for Your children. And, may we look forward to sharing Your heavenly kingdom. Lord, I ask these in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

My Reading – Psalm 30 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing!

O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.

When I was prosperous I said, ‘Nothing can stop me now!’ Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. I cried out to you, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy saying, ‘What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Help me, O Lord.’

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy; that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. I will give you thanks forever!

My Reflection - Have you ever felt and said the important phrase, ‘nothing can stop me now!’? Don’t we feel like we are ‘on top of the world’ when we achieve something great? Normally, we get this feeling when a tough business deal successfully closes, or when our boss rewards our contribution and promotes us to higher position in the company, or when we go on that luxurious only-the-rich-can-afford cruise with the whole family; and there are many more feelings of prosperity. Yes, it is in times of prosperity when we feel great and most often than not, fail to recognize who was responsible for making all these happen.

I know of a business friend who was like this! There was a point in his life that he strongly felt he could do anything successfully whether it was related to work, studies, sports or relationships. Was this the high point of success in his life? No! This was the highest point of fortune, fame and notoriety engulfing him. The material things that make up a successful person were all in his reach like houses, cars, money etc. But, there was one thing he couldn’t do successfully – to thank God for these material possessions. Can we say he was ‘blessed’ by God? Even with his pride and ungratefulness, God allowed him to have these material things. Why?

I believe that this is part and parcel of God’s plan for us that there will be people who will have more than others. And, at times, there is this noticeable wide gap between the rich and the poor, making us think at times – was God fair in all of this? In times of prosperity, we should remember to thank God for His graciousness, allowing this to happen for a purpose. We remember the scripture verse that says ‘more will be asked from those who were given more’ and this could mean using what more we have and helping the poor, giving back to the church and charitable institutions. When we thank God for His goodness in us and return that goodness without reservation or boastfulness to others, it is the time when we can say, we are truly blessed by God.

My Prayer - Lord, thank You for giving the material things in my life. Thank You for answering my desires for these things. Teach me to learn to do what is right with regard to material possessions. I know when You call me, I will leave all these behind. Let Me not be so attached to earthly things because of this. Whatever little or more I have in my life, let me share it with the poor or give to church and charitable institutions. May I follow the example of Jesus as He lived on earth. All these I pray. Amen.

by : Joey B.