Corona Devo 1521

When I was young and learning to bake from my mom and gramma's, one of the core principles of cooking that they taught was the importance of greasing a pan.  

Cookie sheet or 9x13 casserole, we had better grease that baby with oleo (my Gramma T.), a pat of butter (Gramma C.), or rub the paper wrapping from a stick of butter around the bottom of the sides of the pan, to put every last bit of butter to use, and to keep our food from sticking.

I have forgotten to grease a pan once in a while, and the results are not pretty.  They are ugly, actually.  Cakes don't release, brownies don't budge, and pasta's stick like hardened fossils.  

Greasing a pan is critical...ask any cook or chef.

~~~

Well, cookie sheets and loaf pans are not the only things that need to be well-oiled to function-well.  We do too.  And...if you haven't figured out what our grease-for-getting-through life is...it's gratitude to God: Rejoicing in Him.   

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.  ~Philippians 3:1

~~~

Rejoicing safeguards our faith (and our attitude for life).  The apostle Paul knew that, and he taught it to the Believers around him.  

God knew that, and so He put this advice (command) in the Bible.  Paul said it, but God inspired it (All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17), because God knew that rejoicing in the Lord would safeguard our faith.  (Keep our faith safe.)

~~~

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  ~Philippians 3:1
 
The Lord knows what we are up against today.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  ~Philippians 3:1

~~~

God knows the worries/intimidations/fears that are clouding our minds and dampening our hearts today.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  ~Philippians 3:1

~~~

God knows our exhaustion, our long-haul, our heavy load today.  But take a moment to praise Him and see what happens.  The sunrise, the birds chirping, the grass and flowers, the daylight hours, the smells of life, the memories of loved ones who have met death, someone loving us, the blessing of loving another, forgiveness, salvation, eternity-with-God.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  ~Philippians 3:1

~~~

God knows our enemies and the wiles of the wicked one.  Shoo away the darkness with the light of praise to the Lord.  (For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (9) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) (10) and find out what pleases the Lord.  ~Ephesians 5:8-10).

Our praise (rejoicing in Him) pleases the Lord, and we will be surprised at how powerful rejoicing in the Lord can be when do it authentically.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  ~Philippians 3:1

~~~

Perhaps we know the opposite-effects of a lack of praise and rejoicing in the Lord.
Perhaps that is why the Lord opened our Bible up to this page today.

Are we stuck?  Is our routine crusty?  Are our relationships crumbling?  What is our attitude like lately?  Not pretty?  Ugly, actually?

Days and hearts without rejoicing in the Lord causes things to get sticky.  Pride doesn't release, grudges don't budge, and attitudes that are poisonous stick like hardened fossils.  

We had better apply the grease of gratitude and rejoicing in the Lord today.  

Start small, make a little list, and when we begin praising God for Who He is and all that He has done for us...the lubrication of joy and awareness-of-God's greatness will change us.  

We will get unstuck.  

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.  ~Philippians 3:1

We know this, but we needed to hear it again today.  Paul knew that...and (of course) God knew that.  We need t hear this over and over, which is why Paul said, "I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith" (Philippians 3:1).

We needed to hear it again today.  Rejoicing safeguards our faith.  It is critical...ask the Lord, Paul or any true believer.  

Rejoice in the Lord today!

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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