Psalm 4: 1 meditation

Answer me when I call O God of righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer

David lived within calling distance from God. In time of need he lifted his supplications to God. He recognized that out of distress good could come. "You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer" (Amplified.) God allowed David to be in distress for He wanted to make him a bigger man for bigger tasks.

God had set apart David for His own. "But know that the Lord had set upon Him that is godly for himself"(Ps 4:3). God has set us apart, too, for Himself, not because of who we are, or what we are, but because of what we can become in Christ.

David could have become bitter, thinking of his foes. Instead, he said, "Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be STILL" (v.4). As he became still within, he could hear God's gentle whisperings to him during the night watches. 

David recognized the security of trusting the Lord. "Put your trust in the Lord" (v. 5). People may forsake you, circumstances may change. But God never forsakes. We can trust him at ALL times. 

Inspite of his troubles. David experienced a SATISFIED HEART. One filled with God-given gladness. "Yes, the gladness you have given me is far greater than their joys at harvest time as they gaze upon their bountiful crops" (Ps 4:7, LB). Too often we look for joy and gladness in prosperity. But the gladness David wrote about had its source in God. It is "more than" gladness in the midst of trials, a gladness dependent on God. 

Regardless of our problems today, our hearts can be filled with a God - given gladness that completely satisfies. 

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excerpt from the book:

How to Become the Happiest People You Know

By Joyce Meyer

Jesus began His public ministry in Nazareth. It was the town where He grew up, where all His close friends and family lived - a place where he should have received plenty of hugs and hand clasps of encouragement. But for Jesus, it was not a good experience.

The crowd was happy with Jesus' teachings to a point, but when His words became a little more direct and corrective, the Bible says they became so enraged that they actually tried to kill him (see Luke 4:28, 29) Jesus didn't even try to defend the validity of His ministry. Verse 30 says, But passing through their midst, He went on His way.

Now, the next place He went was Capernaum, where He preached to large crowds, performed miracles and cast out devils from among the people. And they were just so happy. They said, "Stay with us, Jesus. This is your spot!'  Well, who wouldn't want to stay where everybody loves and appreciates you? But Jesus did not hang around there either because He knew there were others who needed to hear His message.

There's a major lesson to be learned here. See, Jesus wasn't moved by people's rejection nor was He moved by their acceptance. He was moved by the spirit of God.

If you can learn how to follow God whether you're accepted or rejected, you're well on you way to fulfilling the call of God on your life.

What to Do When Others Reject You

Have you ever tried to help someone who didn't really want to be helped out of their situations? You know we tend to think that if we could just explain things a little more clearly or be a little bit better witness, they could be helped. But honestly and truly, we've got to know when to break free from the burden of false responsibility.

In Matthew 10, Jesus was sending out His disciples and He told them that if they went to a town and the people didn't accept them, they should shake the dust off their feet and go to the next town. What does that mean for Christians today? It means if someone doesn't want to be helped, we are not obligated to try and change them.

The world is full of hungry, hurting, needy people who would love to get any little bit of love and encouragement you have to give them. So when one person rejects you, don't let that stop you. Just do what Jesus did. Move on to the next person and the next person until somebody wants what you've got.

What to Do When Others Ask Too Much

Now, there are going to be others in your life who love and appreciate you and won't ever want you to leave their side because of who you are and what you do for them. And it's tempting to stay around people like that because they genuinely care about you. But if you choose to stay in that same small circle, you won't be able to reach out to others in need.

Let me ask you this: Do you think enough Christians today are reaching out to people in need? I think the truth is that some of us have been in church long enough to be mature Christians but we're still going to church to take in instead of give out. And what we really need to do is say, "Okay, I've been fed the Word for a long time now, and it's time for me to grow up and start giving out what God's given to me."

I think it would absolutely set the church on fire if everyone who knows God's Word well enough to enjoy some degree of spiritual stability, would simply realize they have what it takes to make a difference in the lives of others.

Practical Advice for Loving Others

When you go to church, don't just go to get a blessing - go to be a blessing. Purposefully say, "God I'm going to church today, and I want You to show me someone who needs a blessing. Show me a widow I can take to lunch or a single mom who's got a few kids and needs some extra ones. Show me someone I can help, because that's what I'm here to do."

See, I've come to understand in my life that selfishness is weakness. But loving and caring for others is a position of power beyond anything that we can possibly imagine We need to pay more attention to others and what they need and what we can do for them. Think about how you can help others and lift them up. Then go out armed and ready, prayed up and looking for someone to bless. 

Pursuing God's Wonderful Plan for You

I'm going to let you in on a wonderful little secret: Serving God is absolutely the most exciting, unbelievabley awesome thing you can do. The more you fill your life with God and reach out to other people, the more God's going to meet your needs, and the happier you're going to be.

I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't take care of yourself. I'm just talking about getting rid of that "What about me?" mindset. I don't even like to go a single day now without doing at least one good thing for someone else. I just don't like to live that way. And I've found out that sometimes I have to purposefully go out looking for people in need. If you don't know anybody who needs help, then go find someone. You won't have to look too hard to find someone you can reach out to.

Romans 8:29 sas we're destined to be molded into the image of Jesus Christ. That is our destiny! It means that everything God does for us He expects to flow through us. Just  as God said to Abraham, "I will bless you and I will make you a blessing, causing you to dispense good to others," He will also do the same through us (see Genesis 12:2) And that's what this life is supposed to be about.

The truth is if you will regularly reach out to help people, edify them, encourage them, and treat them the way you want to be treated, then you will be one of the happiest people in the world today.
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from Enjoying Everyday Life, A Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) magazine November 2011 issue

Three Little Tips for Greater Joy

by Joyce Meyer

Enjoying life is something most people want to do. But joy doesn't happen all the time on its own. It doesn't always come naturally. Enjoying life on a consistent basis takes effort. If you want joy, you must make a decision to do a few things. Lets take a look at some things you can do to enjoy your life consistently. Even if you consider yourself happy, you can increase your happiness by putting all of these three tips into practice.

JOY Tip # 1 - Pay attention to How You Think

Thinking is something you can do on purpose. You must think about what you're thinking about, then decide what you're going to spend time thinking about, and then think those thoughts on purpose. Why? Because what you think is what you become.

When it comes to thoughts, you can think whatever you want to think. You don't have to accept whatever thought drops by for a visit. Do your own thinking, and if you're smart, you will spend time thinking on things that will add power to your life. You'll think powerful thoughts, not just pitiful thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

If you think good thoughts, you will increase your joy in life. So why would any reasonable person want to think things that will make them miserable? I'll never stop talking about the mind. Last year, I wrote a book about it called Power Thoughts.  Another book on this subject I wrote years ago is called  Battlefield of the Mind. Many people have found these books to be helpful with changing the way they think.

JOY Tip # 2 - Be a Person Full of Hope

No matter where you are right now, you can say,  "Something good is going to happen to me". Before I speak at a conference, I say out loud, "We are going to have a wonderful meeting. I believe that people's lives will be changed."

You don't have to be hopeless because you can hope on purpose. There's a scripture in Zechariah I love that says we can be prisoners of hope.  In other words, I'm going to just hope, I'm going to make a decision to hope.

Some of you might say, "What if I hope and then I get disappointed?" Well, at least you were happy while you were hoping.

JOY Tip # 3 - Control Your Mouth

The mouth is an important tool that can either draw you toward joy or pull you further away from it.

James 3:9 says that with the same mouth we praise God and curse other people. It goes on to say the mouth is like a wildfire that no one can control but God can help us. You must be careful what you say. You must think before you speak.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read 1 Peter 3: 10. It says, Let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days (good - whether apparent or not) keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit)

If you want to enjoy your life - choose your words wisely.

And don't forget this


Christians must know who they are in Christ and have a balanced appreciation for how God made them. Remember, you were created in the image of God. Having this truth in your heart is healthy and leads to inner peace. And peace produces joy in our lives. Satan is always trying to take this truth away from you. He's called the devil, the serpent, the father of lies, and other ugly names in the Bible. And he has little helpers we call demons who try to help spread his lies. I know many people don't like to talk about this, but I know it's important for you to now.

You don't have to just sit back and let the devil do this. We, as believers, have authority over him. You will never gain victory over the devil through passivity. Wishing for joy isn't going to get it done. You know what I always say - you don't need a wishbone, you need backbone.

So be sure to not only read these three tips on how to enjoy your life more, but do them. You must PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE to see results.

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from Enjoying Everyday Life, A Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) magazine August 2011 issue 

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