I Think Myself Happy!
What is there to cause worry? A virus? The weather? Aches, pains, finances, housing, family? No, I think not, of course not; we are more than conquerors because of the love of God towards us. And our love for Him produces in us confidence according to our faith.
Romans 8:31-39
The Message
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Romans 8:31-39
King James Version
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes, it is good to praise the Lord for the love, grace, and mercy given freely and unconditionally daily. However, with so much going on in the world today, we can be confident that no matter what, we will survive. God has brought us this far, and I see no reason why as long as we stick with Him, He will not always stick with us, keep, cover, and protect us.
I want to share some more about that envelope that I have yet to come across. For the past few days, my study has been in the book of Acts. Something Paul had to experience. I just got to share what I learned.
I had to dig deeper because I wondered why Paul said, "I think myself happy."
Acts 26:2
King James Version
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
Whenever I read that verse, I would also reference it to David when he encouraged himself.
1 Samuel 30:6
King James Version
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Me not being a bible scholar or such, it seemed to make sense that thinking yourself happy would be equivalent to encouraging yourself in the Lord. It all had to do with your thoughts.
But reading recently in the context of what made Paul think himself happy, I found myself encouraged along with Paul because he had permission to speak, and he had a lot to say. His testimony was about to be released. Oh, the joy that must have flooded his soul.
After all, Paul had gone through, the beatings, unfounded accusations, jail, threats on his life,?and so much more, here he was before a king and asked to speak up for himself.
God will prepare us by what we go through, and when the moment arrives, we will see why we had to suffer as we did. Nevertheless, we think ourselves happy because we knew all along that God had a purpose for it all.
I think myself happy. What an epiphany.
Paul shared his testimony, and it was so uplifting king Agrippa said –
Acts 26:28
King James Version
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:28
The Message
But Agrippa did answer: "Keep this up much longer and you'll make a Christian out of me!"
And to just think that Paul had been advised to not go to Jerusalem because of what a prophet had declared.
Acts 21:10-14
King James Version
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Acts 21:10-14
The Passion Translation
During our stay of several days, Agabus, a prophet from Judea, came to visit us. As a prophetic gesture, he took Paul's belt and tied his own hands and feet with it as he prophesied, "The Holy Spirit says, 'The one who owns this belt will be tied up in this same way by the Jews and they will hand him over to those who are not Jews.'" When we heard this, both we and the believers of Caesarea begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.??But Paul replied, "Why do you cry and break my heart with your tears? Don't you know that I'm prepared not only to be imprisoned but to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the wonder of the name of our Lord Jesus?" Because we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said nothing more except "May the will of the Lord be done."
There is just so much to learn from the Word of God. I don't think I will ever catch it all. I am doing my best not to get so excited about what nuggets I discover, but I was reminded –
John 7:38
The Passion Translation
Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!"
Oh, what needless pain we bear, because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
This is that third week of consecration, prayer, and fasting with the TAB. As well as I believe the second week of 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer with Streams of Joy, I continue to pray that you and your family be blessed and favored beyond measure in health, prosperity, wisdom, kindness, and most of all, love. So be it in the name of Jesus done.
You are greatly loved and appreciated.