A popular music listening app takes pride in their Smart Shuffle
feature which basically orders the playlist line-up of the subscriber
in a randomized manner. And so even if the person listens to the
playlist over and over again, he will never know what song will come
next, and that will hopefully pave the way for a pleasant surprise.
As followers of Jesus, one of the secrets to accessing joy in our
hearts regardless of the circumstances we are facing is to have an
ongoing “smart shuffle” of God’s words and promises playing in our
hearts and minds.
When we have such encouragement in our system, we can have joy amid
sadness, challenges, and even in the difficult circumstances in our
lives.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who
keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his
commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9
A sample playlist of God’s promises playing through your mind can
include the following Biblical truths:
1. He will never leave us, He will never abandon us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
2. He has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
3. He will help us endure (1 Corinthians 10:13)
4. His goodness will chase us (Psalm 23:6)
5. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)
6. He will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31)
7. He is our rock, redeemer, and provider (Psalm 18:2 and
Philippians 4:19)
8. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)
9. Vengeance belongs to Him (Romans 12:19)
10. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us less, and that the
only sin he cannot forgive, are those sins we dare not confess to Him.
(1 John 1:9)
Now if we have all these things in our heart, how can we not be joyful
amid tribulations? But it is not all automatic. Such a playlist of
promises does not get automatically uploaded in our hearts just by
googling God’s promises and memorizing it.
The deep sense of joy and assurance that powers this playlist of
promises comes from having a close, personal relationship with God.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in
Me.” John 15:4
The SUREFIRE way to remain joyful in any given season in our life is
by CULTIVATING A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. We can do this by
intentionally praying daily, reading and reflecting in His words,
studying scriptures with fellow believers, going to Church every
Sunday, and living our faith.
When we have a tight connection with the Lord, we will get to know His
character better. We will be assured that He is limitless, sovereign,
and that He does not change! He is a covenant God, and so His promises
can never be broken.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should
change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken,
and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
We will know His Promises and we will trust HIM MORE. Because of this
trust, our faith becomes strong that when the storms and quake of life
come in we will not be shaken because our foundation is anchored to
the LORD, His unchanging character and promises.
Even before we hear the enemy whispering depressing thoughts in our
head, the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT or the WORD OF GOD immediately shuts it
off. Our SMART SHUFFLED playlist will activate in our minds and
hearts, and instantaneously remind us of God’s promises.
“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not
leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy
31:8
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on Isaiah 41:10-14 and Psalm 23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you have a smart shuffle of God’s promises
playing in your head? What comes to mind when you are undergoing
stress and difficulty?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being my
Covenant God, and for being sovereign and unchanging. Give me the
confidence to continue holding on to your promises as I go through
life. And give me the grace to help others hold on to it too. Amen.
