NOVEMBER 22, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

NOVEMBER 22 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: HABAKKUK 3

Thankfulness and joy, from where do these come? What is your source of joy? Far too many people treat God as if He is this exalted servant in the sky. They are happy with Him when He does what they want...when they want it...and how they want it done. They are glad that He is just a little more powerful than man, but not to powerful as to neglect to do what man demands. And when He doesn't perform up to man's expectations, we get mad at Him...we curse Him...we say, "where are you God?" We have joy in God as long as our perceived needs are met. He is a utilitarian being to us and it is what he does for us that brings us our joy. I believe this is by far most people's view of God and their source of joy.

What if, just what if, God never did anything else for us? What if we lost every material thing we had, would we still praise Him...would we find our joy in Him? An Old Testament Prophet by the name of Habakkuk made an incredible statement of faith in God that revealed his joy was in the Lord alone...if he lost everything, still he would trust God...he said he would continue to have "joy in the Lord of his salvation.” Everything in this life changes except God, He is immutable. If we place our joy in things, they, by their nature, will let us down. They may be there one day and gone the next. We are called to love and worship God...not for what He gives us, but because of who He is. Our joy can only be made full by the One who created us; everything else will fail to bring genuine joy. To be sure, we have a great and gracious God who pours so many blessings into our lives, but that is not because He is required or obligated to so, it is because of His great grace and love for us. Job said that even if God were to slay him, yet would he praise God! I hope that you find your joy today in God and God alone...for He and only He is able to completely, perfectly and eternally give us what we need.

Please share your thoughts.