January 27th, 2012 | 
Author: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
– Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
As the Philippians were facing hardships, Paul encourages them to rejoice. Happiness based upon our surroundings is temporal, but contentment that is based upon God’s faithfulness is always available, even in tough times. Don’t let circumstances rob you of the joy that can strengthen your heart in any situation.
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Posted in The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
– John 10:10 (NIV)
by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
This passage is in the middle of Jesus teaching that He is the good shepherd. Shepherds in that day would build makeshift pens for the sheep to sleep in. If a thief wanted to try to steal sheep, they would have to scale the boundaries that the shepherd built. To keep this from happening, good shepherds would sleep in the doorway of the pen, ever alert to danger. The boundaries that Jesus sets up are not to make our lives dull and meaningless, but to repel the attacks of those who want to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus offers us life, and life to the fullest.
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The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
– Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV)
by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
Nehemiah has been praying and preparing to ask the king for supplies and military protection to rebuild Jerusalem. Now comes the great moment. Notice that when the king presents the opportunity that Nehemiah has been waiting for, Nehemiah does not rush headlong forward-he says a silent prayer just before his answer. These prayers don’t have to be out loud or long, but the art of the internal prayer to God can keep us on track when opportunity opens itself to us.
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LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.
– Psalm 38:15 (NIV)
by Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org
What amazing trust! When you read the rest of this Psalm, we see a person who is suffering greatly. Yet in the midst of his personal anguish, King David takes a posture of waiting upon God, for David knows that God is merciful to all who call out to Him. How about us? When we feel overwhelmed from our circumstance, do we go toward God or away from Him? The Scripture reminds us that God wants us to seek Him in all situations.
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