Journey to Joy

DAY TWO: Thursday, October 16, 2008

Reading Psalm 85 before reading the rest of this blog entry will drastically enhance the benefit you derive from it.

"Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in your? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation." Psalms 85:4-6

Restoration. Revival. Rejoicing. These three themes of the 85th Psalm represent the hope of the people of God after returning from their captivity in Babylon (the subject of yesterday's Scripture reading.)

Our ultimate hope in life should be that our relationship to God is what it ought to be. If this is not our predominant priority during 40 Days of Hope then our focus is blurred and the results of this spiritual journey together will be hollow.

Above everything, we should hope for:

The restoration of our relationship with God to the nearest and dearest that it has ever been.

A revival of interest in spiritual things.

Rejoicing "in God."

Action steps for Today:

1. Take inventory. Ask yourself, "Am I as close to God as I have ever been?"

2. If not, repent and move closer to God. (See James 4:8)

3. Commit to one spiritual activity that you've been neglecting.