Oh, the JOY

Romans 4:1-8
“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Praise the LORD!!
Lately I have not been very consistent about reading my Bible, about really sitting down and studying scripture. I have been slacking off and paying the price of it too.
When I was in the thralls of depression about two years ago I had reached a place of getting through each day not seeing how sick I was. When I received treatment for my depression I began healing very quickly and it was not long before I laughed for the first time in a long time. It was not until this moment when I truly laughed, when the sound came from down in my toes and bubbled all the way up and shot out like the cork from celebratory champagne was when I saw just how ill I had been through that time. Only then did I realize how long it had been since I had experienced that Proverbial medicine.
This is what I experience when I come back after not reading my Bible. When I pick up my Bible, open the precious pages and those first lines fall on my heart like dew drops in the barren desert. It's an atomic bomb that brings life instead of death. The dew drops hit and immediately fresh green blades of grass shoot up taller than myself, flowers more breathtaking than a long awaited first kiss carpet the landscape, branches of trees to rival the forests of Lebanon reach past mountain tops, flocks of the most glorious birds soar in the sky and speechless, I fall to my knees. The rush of emotions brought on by even an ounce of God’s Word humble my prideful heart that thought I was just fine. May I never forget my desperate condition without Christ. May I never forget that His mercies are new every morning and how much I need His mercy. I’m speechless seeing God's grace bring me to life yet again as I read, “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.” Not only does this mean that I don’t have to do anything to receive forgiveness but that my sinfulness will never stop my God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” The wages my work should receive is death. Apart from God I can do nothing (John 15:5b) and there is no way for me to please God. (Romans 8:7-8) The wages I had earned since birth condemned me and I was dead. Then God raised me to new life in Christ because of faith that I can’t take credit for, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8. From beginning to end every good thing in my life has come directly from the throne of the God of the Universe, our King, Savior, and Father. (Savanah cliff notes version of James 1:17) 
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Oh, what joy!
It is my prayer today that we never forget the joy of salvation both for ourselves and those not yet a part of the family of God. (emphasis on YET)

I'm currently praying about doing a weekly devotional type post if you could join me in praying about that I would be so very grateful!

Thanks for taking a moment with me, and as always if you have a comment, prayer or praise post it below!
Until next time,
-Savanah

*again photo creds go to my fantastic friend Samuel Greenhill