A Joyful Noise

Psalm 95:1-4 “O come, let us sing to the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving: let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also”(AMP).

The simple joyfulness of expressing thanksgiving to God in songs of praise refreshes our souls and opens our spirits to receive healing and blessing from Him. The value of Christian education is in learning more deeply about God's nature and plan for mankind, so that He may be praised all the more. Our Maker does not listen for perfection in the form of our praise; what He does long to hear is the sound of a worshiping heart. When we come to Him with empty arms outstretched and a heart full of praise, He is blessed by us. It is my prayer that every moment moves us closer to His presence and His heart.

In the secret quiet place of His presence, the verdant deep of God's heart, we are transformed by Him.

Set aside the worries and annoyances of your day. Take the time to sit at His feet and allow Him to infuse you with His Spirit. When we allow Him to mold and shape our lives, our destiny is fulfilled. Expressing thanksgiving and praise will change the quality of your day and of your life.

I pray for the deepening of your relationship with God. I pray that the incense of His presence infuses your life. If you have been far from Him, I pray that you call out to Him today. His heart is longing to hear your song of praise. He is in love with you, eternally.

Please bless Him,

Patti

Bless Me, Oh Lord. . .

The Prayer of Jabez was very popular in Christian song and literature several years ago; I would pray it daily back then; and honestly, I have not remembered to pray it in quite a while.  The prayer is written in I Chronicles 4:9, 10, tucked in between stoic rows of genealogy.  Genealogy is significant in scripture for use in the tracing of bloodlines; the lineage of Christ can be directly traced back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17).  The Archaeological Study Bible states, “In societies organized around kinship, genealogies. . . serve as public record that document history, establish identity and/or legitimate office (1559). While genealogies are important, page after page of “begats” can make your eyes start to cross.   The Prayer of Jabez is a breath of fresh air in the stone-lined hallways of history.  I Chronicles 4:9,10, “And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.  And his mother called his name Jabez, saying because I bore with sorrow.  And Jabez called to the God of Israel, saying, If You would bless me, and make my border larger, and Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, so that it may not grieve me!  And God gave him what he asked” (The Interlinear Bible).  That is all the Bible says about Jabez. Not a word before or after concerning him.  This prayer is like a bonus for being faithful to read all the chapters of lineage.

 The name Jabez means, “He makes sorrow or height” (Lockyer, ATMOTB, 165).  Jabez wasn’t about to let his name, or the circumstances of his birth stand in the way of his relationship with God.  He asks for a blessing and asks to have his border made larger.  Zabez shows his faith in God by his prayer, “And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matthew 21:22 The Interlinear Bible).  In essence, Zabez is asking, “God bless me, give me more influence, more scope, and open horizons.”  Zabez didn’t just ask for more.  He asked for more with God’s presence and blessing upon it.  No material possession, earthly pleasure or prestigious position is anything but dead without God’s presence and influence in one’s life.  With a wink to his sorrowful name, Zabez asks God to keep him from evil, so that it may not grieve him.  The grievance asks to be free of grief!  Finally, God gave him what he asked.  These two little verses in a sea of pedigrees are an encouragement to believers.  Despite his unhappy beginnings, Zabez’s faith in God and boldness in prayer changed everything.  Remember to pray this prayer and remember, “Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and we may find grace for help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 The Interlinear Bible).

Lockyer, Herbert.  All the Men of the Bible.  Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing House, 1958.