True Joy or Scattered by Grief

Voice of Prayer

Living in a fallen world, we can experience the harshness of the world. Though being born again to life we are still in this world but not of it! If we are not in joy, then we are in sadness and grief. And outside of God you will find no true joy of any kind!


Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
Proverbs 14:13 NKJV reads this way: Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief.

As we know the outward appearance of a person does not always portray the true feelings of the heart. Within this verse given in the Amplified Bible, verse 13 gives the end of mirth is heaviness and grief. Yikes!

Now when someone gets to that place it is as foreign to them as being in another country speaking no English or like being on a planet where no one lives!

Psalm 137:2-6  NKJV  …..(2) We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.(3) For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"   4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!  6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—  If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Bitterness describes the complaints of those in exile. God forced Judah, not to harm but show their way was destructive to them.  These people had been scattered by their continuing to disobey God!

In this setting people desire to sit by the banks of the river under the many willows that grew along the banks, and in that coolness of the day, they desired rest from toil, but their thoughts turned to the home far away and the loneliness of being on foreign soil. They thought of the lost time in their homeland, their loss of years and heartache due to their own "desires". And while in all this, they are bullied by the nation that took them captive, to scoff and make fun of their instrument the harps and because of their God. The captors desired the captives to play them "the fun song".  This period of time they, the captives, mingled their tears with the waters that ran so freely through the region. Their grief overwhelmed them, and the present worship was only in laments of the sorrowful.

In this moment of time, they were far from life that they knew and their instruments was the bitter reminder of  life that what once was held with festive songs, delight and food in the land they called home. But in this moment ,grief challenged their hearts. No songs would serve them but the songs of Zion. What honored God would be truly noted.

Psalm 39:1-6 reminds us about pain and injustices of life often arousing an amount of indignation. It states: I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” 2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing (meditating) the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue. 4 “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as hand-breadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best is vapor. 6 Surely every man walks about like shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.

Repressed grief, and pent up emotions over man’s broken plans produced a flame that had long been smothered. Anything causing heat can be built up to produce a “hot” flame. In the place of the hidden heart, the many rooms contain plans, dreams, and most likely brokenness from previous relationships or with current ones. People need to talk about things but not to the extent of hammering others to the ground. We each are responsible to ourselves. We are to be responsible at the age we are and not hammer others or badmouth another when our own mouths and actions got us into that place of “trouble” and possible exile!  Being out of God’s will is like being in the “wrong” land at the "wrong" time! 

 It is willfully doing our own things when God has directed us to a certain path and to safety. And when we do not listen or obey, we find ourselves in a heap of a mess. Surely we must come to our senses and quickly not to lose the foundation of that which was placed by God in our youth or in the learning stages of His grace.

 There is something to exile, to that scattering, that God finds very good. For it certainly is not all grief, but stages the Father will take to see us kept safe and to know that we have done “wrong” will be readily before us. And we choose to see repentance is the needed answer, then we are to respond to Him so our relationship with Him continues.

Proverbs 19:21  There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’S counsel---that will stand.

Jesus told us of the heart! In Matthew 15:19 we are told that out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, and all of these kinds of things. The heart, yes, is your driving force. And some people have them “souped- up, and turbo charged. They have a hidden danger of heat burning within the heart and without allowing God to lead them through, they thrash others with verbal sword strikes that can kill.

When they "text' their friend, it appears has the hate message. In posting something, they attack someone, and list their very bad issues of character.

Still others will take a trip to fantasy land. They will make the required reservations, check their finances for the availability of  the quick purchase, fun-fare, rides of amusement, fancy dining and the quick snack on-the run thinking they are having a great time, the "great family vacation or family time together,  till they arrive home, and their old “friend bitterness” is there spilling over into grief of lost ones, lost family dinners with the crowd of loved ones, grief over what might have been and ending up on foreign soil. 

Finding their solitude painful they try silence only for the patient few days and then the flame of grief  is fanned into flame by the tongue of anger for the lost.  Their money spent, their tired from long drives, tired from long days and short nights with little or no sleep and pretending all the while that the party is still going and growing.

God does not want us to stop making plans, but He always wants us to understand that those plans are subject to His will and His purpose. God is judging the thoughts of our hearts and the plans that we make, and if they are not in harmony with His plan, then His judgment may result in something that might be emotionally or physically painful to us in order that we are put back on track.

The word of God is to be our "plumb line". Anger can appear and frustrations can be revealed, but we cannot be led by what we "feel". We must know the Word of God, regard it as the standard and not move off it . Party time is not the answer when a heart is about to blow with frustrations and many questions. And if you or I lust after other things as to what people do, what people wear and  to what people have, then we have the wrong thought process. For lust only brings the loss of most likely our good health and life.

Living godly, will bring life that is long and far from the land of exile. The next time something tries to send you into exile, remember God has a plan of good and not evil for a hope in our final outcome. Do not lose focus of His word of truth to lead you out into the light. Turn toward your Father in heaven ask in Jesus name for the expulsion to begin of the grief and pain. Be reminded He lost His Son for our benefit. He lost His first son Adam and His second Son Jesus, but gained life back for us through Jesus. What may be before you should not dictate your life for bitterness as it is harmful and grief can be devastating. It can devastate your life, your home and family.
Remember Jesus came as a human not as God to walk here. He came born into suffering and pain but it was His empathy that made the perfect sacrifice. He is for you and He will help!

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UNPRETENTIOUS

1 Samuel 17:31-37...............31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
1 Samuel 17:38-39
38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor, and he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.  NKJV

I have not tested this sword. I have not tested this armor.
"I have not tested them,"......So David took them off!

In the blog I wrote on..."A Zealous Warrior at Dawn, or in the Dark of Night"....inspired by the Holy Spirit to write on that test in wilderness and of the heart!  Like David, out with the sheep,  we can see everything tested in the "wilderness" . I, too, think our hearts are measured in that place like David's was tested. God always comes to check our motives, our devotion, our faith, our relationship with Him and with others. David's skill came from what he used in the "wilderness" of what he had on or in his hand. He had to lean on God alone.

David wrote Psalm 139, and many believe it was written while David was still just a shepherd herding sheep. They believe he wrote it about the.....scene in which he wrote and sang it to God.
For a moment, let's think on the darkness of night and the lights that shine are displayed on the black velvet sky. Let's think on what David probably viewed in the midnight hour, in the solitude, where even the quiet seems loud. For in that moment we can feel that darkness wrap its cover over us. It is in those moments when we note God's omniscience, His omnipresence, and of course of His omnipotence!

Omniscience: 1 Samuel 2:3.............3 "Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,..For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed. .NKJV

Isaiah 46:9-10..........9 Remember the former things of old,   For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 

10 Declaring the end from the beginning,  NKJV

Psalm 139:4.............4 For there is not a word on my tongue,..But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. NKJV

Omnipresence:  Jeremiah 23:23-24.......23 "Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD,

"And not a God afar off? 

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places,  So I shall not see him?" says the LORD;

"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD.   NKJV

Proverbs 15:3.....3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,  Keeping watch on the evil and the good.  NKJV

Psalm 139:5.............You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. NKJV

Omnipotent: Luke 1:37........ 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."  NKJV

Jeremiah 10:12........12 He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.  NKJV

Isaiah 43:13.....13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"  NKJV

Colossians 1:16-17.............16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. 17 And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist. NKJV

What has been tested when no one sees, when it is just you and God, that is the "thing" God will bring forward in your life?  But Shelley, I have tested nothing. I have not worked on anything and brought it to God!
Do you read the Word of God diligently? Do you ask God about certain scriptures or passages, for He will certainly answer you on them!
"How do you act at the workplace?" Are you giving or taking? (are you taking care of your job and seeing you do your best at it?)   "How do you act around your family"? Is your family surprised when they take you out to church or to a party for a friend? Do you act different when others you do not know are around? "How do you treat your husband or children?" Are they treated the same in a social setting as visiting in someone's home, out to the theater for a movie, etc.?  Is God surprised when you show up for church? How about if God is surprised when you speak in a gentle voice?  As we read in the scriptures above, God created, nothing is impossible with Him, His eyes keep watch on you and me, He knows the evil and the good, and everything I do or you do is weighed by HIM!
David said in Psalm 139...23-24...search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24............23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;  24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.  NKJV

To test something or....To prove it...

David was going against a giant, Goliath, who spoke defiantly against God! (see in  1 Samuel 22-27, 31-54) 

What skills do we hold in the "wilderness" area? Will we search the Word to find what God has already done in the lives of so many? Or would we rather find that remote control and just hibernate and allow another to voice something to us of the world. I like movies too, but there is a fine line we can cross if we are not cautious about what we put before our eye gates!
I found that like a student from 1st grade to graduating the 12th, I loved to study. I liked having plenty of paper, pens and pencils with good erasers. I loved looking in encyclopedias and searching in many informational books I needed for some classes. So, when I started praying in Tongues, (that Baptism in the Holy Spirit) I began to look into the Word of God that perfect law of liberty and find my place. As I did, I kept praying, and found myself leading in places I didn't know I could do!

1 Samuel 17:39-54...........And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. 

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." 

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. NKJV

1 Corinthians 1:31... Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  NIV

Amen and Amen! Making our boast in the Lord, like David, he made his boast, used his sling shot and stone, and in the end, carried the giant's head to Jerusalem and the armor he put into his tent. David had drawn the sword from the sheath of Goliath and used Goliath's own sword against him!

UNPRETENTIOUS: Modest, Without Ego, Not Proud, No "flash in the pan", Sincere, HONEST, and BOLD!

David's confidence that he stood with God. He said ," I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and wild beasts of the earth, that ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL. THEN ALL THE ASSEMBLY SHALL KNOW THAT LORD DOES NOT SAVE WITH SWORD OR SPEAR; FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS."

David took care of what he did in the "wilderness" and he got a training in trusting God. He kept his life attached to the God of life, the God of more than enough, the God who does the impossible, and weighs our actions.

Can we like David run to the place where there is a battle going on? Do we not see them everywhere today? Is there something that I have been trained to do in the "wilderness" that qualifies me to take up that which I can use against the enemy of the devil and speak, "NO MORE devil!" Can I move through the crowd and NOT throw my weight around so to speak, but move through like Stealth and take the place that is being bombarded by the devil.? Can we move through our day and speak life over individuals who may never walk into a church setting, but will listen when you speak, because you deal in truth and honesty. They will listen because you speak in love and not to bash someone! In truth I am ready to pray for someone, unless there are more leaders who are over me or who I do not know, say in a church setting and must wait for directions from the pulpit, but if I am out for the day with my husband, we pray for those opportunities that we may seize them and pray for someone in need of encouragement!

All is  not for my glory, but for God's glory.

In closing I mention David's brother, Eliab. In 1 Samuel 17:28-29....when David has first arrived and all the shouting has begun........(1 Sam 17:24-25...........24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." NKJV).....................................we find, that all the men of Israel had fled from him (the giant). (yes, those military men) And it was told what the man would get who would go against the giant Goliath!

In the verses 28-29, we see Eliab aroused to anger against David. ...........he said, "why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

My question: Why would a military man be envious of David at this point? Was it because David saw it and was ready to take action against it? Was he addressing what needed to be said and done in the power of God? Was Eliab still angered because David had been anointed with a horn of oil by the prophet in 1 Samuel 16:13?
For the Lord certainly refused Eliab........in verses 7-8 of 1 Samuel 16..........But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

No, God was looking on the heart, and David's was found with God.

God was leading David, and no man got a say, even a military man with some expertise under "his belt" so to speak.  And speaking that David had pride and insolence in his heart was so out of line with what God was showing and doing in Israel through David, the shepherd! Eliab was saying, "David, you are prideful and you are arrogant!" But David was none of those things. David was making his boast in the Lord. There is a lot of difference when standing for truth and justice for all.
It is not being haughty but having a boldness in heart to have courage to stand against the enemy!

God was directing David, because David loved God, had a heart after God and would not settle for less!
David showed up at the right place, at the right time, and would operate in the power of God. David was skilled with the sling and had his five stones. (one for every brother of Goliath, and Goliath himself). We read where David ran to Goliath!
David was the instrument of justice and was ready to face the injustice against Israel. Will we do as much? David was moving into plain view, for people to see and witness God. David had no pretense. They have this undaunted courage from the times they spend with God and hearing Him. They are not discouraged but they keep moving forward. THEY ARE ARMED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

David wrote in Psalm 34:2....I will make my boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice...and in Jeremiah  9:23-24.....................23 This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
 declares the LORD.  NIV


Father, we pray in  Jesus' name to not be wise man who boasts in his wisdom or the strong man who boasts of his strength or of the rich man boasting of all his riches. But we desire to boast in the Lord. It is YOU who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth and in these do you delight. We pray to be diligent to seek You and hear You. We pray to strong and determined to find YOUR thoughts and ways for our lives. For we truly desire to walk in truth and to have a boldness as David did in confronting Goliath. Lord lead us by Your Holy Spirit and help us to see that which must be addressed by us. We pray to be those who are skilled in that which we are about to walk in, faithful to keep our walk with you, considerate of others, and ready to pray for others when the need arises. May we shut out all other voices that do not pertain to where we are going and what You have planned for us. Right now, we give You all the praise and thanks for allowing us to be apart of this great end time move in the harvest for souls. Amen.


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