Blog Layout
Be of Good Cheer
Andrea Lende • February 4, 2020
John 16:33
Be of Good Cheer
Daily Word:
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"
This verse brings such encouragement to me.
Jesus spends much time talking with the disciples and readying them for His departure from this world.
There are so many precious words of wisdom in the sixteenth chapter of John.
Jesus ends His discourse with this last verse.
He gave us everything we could possibly ever desire as He lived and died for us.
....."[perfect] peace and confidence."
I'm not sure if there is anything more that we need to traverse this world but, "[perfect] peace and confidence."
As the chaos of this world ensues, I seek peace.
Jesus said He gives me perfect peace.
I am so very grateful that whatever circumstances surround me, His peace rests inside of me.
He also gives me confidence.
When my emotions get out of control and I am fearful, I can walk boldly into fear with confidence.
He is before me, beside me, and behind me lifting me up and giving me strength.
Jesus said we will have difficulties and stress and be frustrated.
But He also said, "be of good cheer".
What does that mean?
How can we be of good cheer inside of difficulties and stress and frustration?
The Amplified Bible further expands the words good cheer to mean: "[take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]".
Jesus is talking about our demeanor here.
He said be courageous.
Be confident.
Be certain - unwavering and undaunted.
Instead of falling in the face of fear we are to boldly move forward with courage, confidence, and certainty.
I looked up the last word the Amplified version gives us in this string of words- undaunted.
Google defines undaunted as: "not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment".
We are sure to find difficulties as Jesus said, but we can respond with strength as Jesus also said.
Isaiah 50:7 says, "For the Lord God helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame."
Believing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is with us and can go ahead of us and pave the way for us is Biblical.
Being of good cheer during times of difficulty and stress and frustration is also Biblical and it is a gift.
It is a gift which we can operate in as Jesus commanded.
Lastly, Jesus said, "For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"
Jesus has already overcome my difficulties and problems, and frustrations.
I just have to know that He has.
I pray that the Mighty Hand of God will strengthen me in every way so that I may operate in this wonderful and powerful gift.
Today I will go forth with courage, confidence, and certainty no matter the difficulties I face.
May you be courageous, confident, and certain in all that you do today.
Blessings be to you!
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for Your Son and all that He taught the disciples and is still teaching me today. Thank You for the wisdom You continue to impart into my heart and soul as I read Your Word. Thank You, Father, for Your Holy Spirit that leads, guides, and directs me. Help me to savor every word I read and every nugget of wisdom I glean from Your Word. May You strengthen me in every way to receive the gifts You offer and operate in the gifts that are available to me through Your Son. Help me to be strong and of good cheer no matter the circumstances. If frustration and fear find me today, I pray You bring to me the remembrance of Jesus' words, "be of good cheer". Help me walk boldly through the difficulties of this day and this life with You holding me up and working out every circumstance for Your perfect will. May your perfect peace and confidence rest on me today, Lord. Help me bless someone today. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you every moment, My child, guiding you and protecting you.
Response: Thank You, Almighty and all powerful Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.