Chrissy Siggee

JOY

Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

I love this verse. It’s full of hope, and the delight I feel when I’m in His presence bathes my soul with the joy of the Lord and brings an overwhelming transformation to my spirit. To worship the Father takes me into another realm of emotional joy that takes me in to His throne room of prayer.

Even when sadness touches my life, when pain is always near, or when a friend or family member is hurting, His presence always brings joy back into my spirit.

Isaiah 51:11
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Praise God, I often feel like singing, (I pity the neighbours though) and I can’t get enough of His presence that comes with the joy that He gives me. But, even when I don’t feel like singing or praising God, He can give me back that joy, when sadness threatens to overtake me. I can still go out in joy and be led forth in peace, giving thanks in all circumstances; he does replace my sadness and grief with the joy of the Lord.

Let your week be filled with the joy of the Lord.
© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

COURAGE

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Philippians 4:12
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Some days I feel overwhelmed by the busyness of life itself. Sometimes it’s physical pain or tiredness. Being aware of the pain that family and dear friends are going through can also overwhelm.

Going through tough times needs courage and though I don’t always feel I have enough, God is always there to see me through. His Word is true and I can do everything through him who gives me strength. I always know that… He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

Father, I am weak but you are strong. Through the struggles of day-to-day busyness, pain and weariness, I look to you for the courage to go on. Help me to do what I need to do in your strength. Amen.
© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

COMFORT

Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

These are without a doubt, some of the most comforting words from Scripture I know by heart. Through all situations I have only to rest on in Him for my strength.

With my husband’s employment, we move frequently, and when our children were little, I dreaded those times. We often spent weeks in temporary accommodation waiting on housing and our personal belongings to arrive. During those transition times, it was characteristic of the department of defence to send Norm away on a course.

During one of these relocations, that was a few hundred kilometres from our nearest family; our son became constantly ill with serious allergies. Three weeks into the hotel stay, I had to ask the staff not to use their chemicals when cleaning and reduced room cleans from once a day to once a week so I could plan time to have the room aired afterwards. Ken was just over eighteen months old at the time and his sister Cyline, was three and a half. Their ages alone meant around the clock care but Ken never slept, except for about two hours after his midday meal. Cyline was usually worn out by then too, so I used this time to catch up on my own sleep.

New states, new towns and new experiences were always daunting and to settle into a new normal day to day life in these situations proved to be stressful and lonely. But I remember these verses were my source of comfort. I don’t believe it was coincidence that these verses from the Psalms appeared so often during my daily devotions.

Psalm 46:1-3 became my key verses and since that particular relocation, they have become part of me through many situations over the years. We all need words of comfort at one time or other and we can be assured that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Beautiful words of comfort in any situation.

Thank you, Lord, for your comfort in every situation. Help us to know that you are our refuge and strength and guide us through difficult times, fear and loneliness. Whatever we face in our day to day lives, teach us to lean on you for all our needs. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee
Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible