Seek His Joy

Thursday, March 5,2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Joshua 1:9

9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Verses of the day-Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Today’s reading:  Numbers 32-34 Mark 9:30-50

Seek His Joy

It is a teachers nature to work to instill a desire in students to learn. We read of Abraham Lincoln and how he was ‘self-taught’ and he was a student of many areas. We want to say, “Student, teach thyself” with an eternal hope that they will.

But what really makes us want to learn?

We want to learn the most we can about what will give us the best feeling and the most security in this life so we can employ that knowledge to arrive at that ideal.

Some will be offended, but this is called hedonism-”The doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life.”

To some degree, this is all of us. Argue all you want-but why have you done what yo have done to better yourself? You have an ideal of life you want/wanted to reach and you have worked for it-and that ideal did not involve pain and unhappiness.

The point? We have been given commands in scripture that were not written by the finger of God in stone but inspired by the Spirit of God for us to follow: Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4); Rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4; Serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2.

These are our duties-yes, duties by Biblical command. But when I married my wife, I took an oath-I made a promise to love honor and cherish. I obligated myself. But as the years went on, I realized my duties were not duties at all but a privilege and joy to love and receive love in a God given union.

Delighting in and rejoicing in the Lord and serving Him with gladness can, will be, and are privileges and are learned if we seek Him with all our hearts.

Being an American means I have laws to follow but I love my country and live within its laws.

Being a child of God means I have laws to follow but the greatest of these is loving God with all I am and then loving myself so I know how to love my neighbor(Matthew 22:37-39).

There is a life of love to learn. It does not come naturally. I must learn as much as I can about God’s nature and live my life in praise of Him-a life of worship(Romans 12:1&2).

Ask God to fill you with His joy so you can fully glorify Him.(John 15:11)

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the joy in Your name and in Your kingdom. Forgive me for letting the world burden me down. Teach me today more of how to walk freely in You. Lead me away from wickedness.

Source of all joy and pleasure,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen