March 8

 
“But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.”
(1 Chronicles 16:26b-27)

  As human beings, we are locked in the lesser kingdom of men even as we walk along the rugged pathway to Zion. One of the things that we learn and experience is that not every moment of each day is filled with joy and rejoicing. We live in a desperate, dying, fallen world accompanied by people who are lost – the living dead – and we are often walking alongside these precious created beings of God who are not redeemed. Instead of having received the Spirit of God’s Peace and Joy, they have inherited the spirit of wrath. Likewise, we also accompany other believers who are struggling with their own measure of fleshly corruption, burdens, and sorrows. Under these conditions, a life filled with joy becomes manifestly difficult to achieve and is truly distant. But it is important to learn as a Christian that joy is never out of our reach under any circumstances, no matter how horrible things may seem on any given day. As children of the Most High, we are promised unlimited access to the Greater Kingdom of God and its resources at any time. In even the most difficult of circumstances, we are but a single step away from entering God’s Kingdom through the ministry of the Holy Spirit of Grace Who lives within us. At this noontime pause, let us understand what lies on the other side of that spiritual veil which has been torn away by Jesus specifically to allow each of God’s elect to live perpetually in the Kingdom of God, even on the pilgrim’s way to Zion. For as we enter into God’s Kingdom and kneel before His splendor, today’s passage tells us what we find there each and every time. In our Father’s Presence, we will always discover splendor, majesty, strength, and joy! It is His promise that each time we come to Him, and willingly leave the corrupted world behind, all of these things are ours – always and forever!

 
Before the King at Midday

“Blessed Father of light, Wellspring of all strength, and Fountainhead of immeasurable joy that has no end, I come before You at this time of noon to receive the blessing You have promised to each of Your beloved children. Thank You, Abba Father, for touching me right now as I receive in faith a double anointing of Your strength and joy. Amen.”