CAN YOU IMAGINE

“Cheer up, don’t be afraid. For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will give you victory. He will rejoice over you in great gladness; he will love you and not accuse you.” Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.” — Zephaniah 3:16–18 TLB

Can you imagine that God’s delight in us is so genuine, so spontaneous, so spirited that he exults over us by singing happy songs? Can you imagine that he not only lives among us (within us) and promises to give us victory, but also that he rejoices over us in great gladness? Who in your lifetime—past, present, or future—has ever been or will ever be so utterly in love with you?

Only God! Plain, simple, profound. That realization is enough to cause me to look up, up, up, and topple over with cheer-inducing, heartfelt gratitude. It’s wonderful to know that no matter what or whom I meet on the road, I can be of good cheer. How? Why? It is because Jesus lives within me, and he is an overcomer. And because of his indwelling presence, so too am I.

So come on! Grab your robe and join the joyous choir. There’s a lot more living, loving, and laughing to do. Sure, there’s plenty of stuff in this world to steal your joy. But remember, you have Jesus. You have a choice. You can choose cheer over fear. And after all is said and done, wouldn’t you rather be laughing?

— Marilyn Meberg
womenoffaith.com