Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Joni Eareckson Tada: Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada with a word from God.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Sounds prophetic and important, right? Like, "Joni, that's a word from God?" Well,

Joni Eareckson Tada: the word is actually from Haggai chapter 2 verse 19, and this is the word, and mind you, this is from God, the Lord says in Haggai chapter 2 verse 19, "From this day on, I will bless you."

Joni Eareckson Tada: Now, if you look at the context, God is about to pour his blessings out on the remnant of his people who returned to Jerusalem. After all that they had been through, after all the defilement, there are warnings, but as God's people stand in the ruins of that destroyed temple with stones and weeds all around, the Lord announces to them, "From this day on, I will bless you."

Joni Eareckson Tada: Well, all well and good for the people during the time of the prophet, but what about now? What day will the Lord bless?

Joni Eareckson Tada: Well, Pastor James Smith from the 1800s, wrote about that day and those blessings, and listen to what he says.

Joni Eareckson Tada: He says, "What day will God bless you?"

Joni Eareckson Tada: "The day you begin to seek the Lord, the day you decide to be on the Lord's side, the day you publicly and honestly profess him, the day you heartily engage in his work, the day you return from backsliding and repent from your sin before him."

Joni Eareckson Tada: "The day you identify yourself with God's people in heart and soul."

Joni Eareckson Tada: "What does the Lord promise? To bless you."

Joni Eareckson Tada: "He will bless your temporal mercies. He will bless your trials. He will bless your labors, your family, your soul. He will bless you with light and liberty, strength, peace, contentment, and success."

Joni Eareckson Tada: "So, friend, be decided for the Lord and always walk in his ways. Expect his blessings, for he has given you his word, and he confirmed it with a solemn oath. Be diligent in the use of all means to receive that blessing."

Joni Eareckson Tada: "Constantly look to Jesus as the only channel through which those blessings flow."

Joni Eareckson Tada: Oh my, all that from one short verse in Haggai chapter 2. And all these blessings were not only for the people of Haggai's day who returned to Jerusalem from captivity.

Joni Eareckson Tada: These blessings are for us. If we, like God's people of old, if we would but plead God's promises to bless us, and it's what I encourage you to do today.

Joni Eareckson Tada: If you would but put that bad habit behind you.

Joni Eareckson Tada: If you would but let go of that grudge and reconcile with your friend or family member.

Joni Eareckson Tada: If you would but be honest in your dealings with people.

Joni Eareckson Tada: If you would but put behind you whatever sin, great or small, you will enjoy peace like a river, and your right way of living will dawn on others like the noonday sun.

Joni Eareckson Tada: You'll be like a tree planted by rivers of water, and whatever you put your hands to, it's going to prosper.

Joni Eareckson Tada: God will bless you, and then you will pass on that blessing to others.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Oh friend, that is such good news.

Joni Eareckson Tada: And there's even more good news waiting for you at joni.org today. At joni.org, you'll find this program and a whole treasure trove of Joni's other timely biblical wisdom.

Joni Eareckson Tada: To help you find hope in whatever hardship you might face.

Joni Eareckson Tada: And let's face it. Life is tough. So let's lean on God's word and go to the Lord in prayer.

Joni Eareckson Tada: That's where we'll find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

Joni Eareckson Tada: And remember, please remember this wonderful verse from Haggai 2:19.

Joni Eareckson Tada: God says, "From this day onward, I will bless you, because the day you begin to seek the Lord, that's the day he's going to bless."

Joni Eareckson Tada: See you soon at joni.org.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Oh, and one more thing, if you have a prayer need to share with us, you can do that at joni.org too.