I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I hope your New Year is off to a great start! And I want to tell you why I think mine is off to a good start.
You probably know that over the last year I’ve been trying to get a better handle on managing pain levels in my back and hip. Hasn’t been easy, it has. But, things are looking up… my pace is slow, but I am going to step out on a limb here and say, that this year I’ll see big improvement in managing my pain; ‘cause I’m working harder at physical therapy, got a new wheelchair on the way, a different kind of seat cushion… So physically, where it concerns practical things I can do, my husband, Ken, and I feel we are heading in the right direction.
But, secondly, things are looking up because of some spiritual stuff that’s changed. I am a bona fide, 100% walking example -- or rather, a wheeling example -- of prayer at work. I tell you friends, sometimes I can almost feel in my body the reverberations of the prayers of God’s people, and I mean it! Also, spiritually, I am leaning harder than ever on the Word of God; people have written me the most encouraging Scriptures.
Just listen to this note I received from Rachel, Lindsey and Eva who live up in Turlock, California. These three sisters, oh, ranging in age from 9 years old to 19, this is what they wrote. Now listen to this. This is great. They said,
“Dear Joni, we just wanted to let you know that we love you and are continuing to pray for you. [That’s nice.] Take courage in the knowledge that God has given you these difficulties for your further sanctification and for His glory! Who knows, Joni, you might have been mentioned in a conversation between God and Satan, much like the one in Job to which God replied, ‘Have you considered my servant, Joni?’ So be encouraged for joy comes with the morning! Soli deo Gloria!”
What do you think of that note? Is that great or what? I mean, this was written by kids! And I think you can tell these girls are home-schooled, right? Well, the three of them make no apologies for it, they are. And also, you can probably tell they’re steeped in the Word of God. I mean, c’mon, a nine-year-old using a word like “sanctification?” And using the first chapter of Job for encouragement? These girls believe that to encourage me means to remind me of my own sanctification, and that I can find comfort in the story of Job! Now some believers might not think that’s very uplifting, but I sure do. ‘Cause I know my faith is not man-sized, it’s God-sized, just like the faith of Rachel, and Lindsey and Eva. And I give a lot of credit to their parents and to their church up there in Turlock, California.
It just goes to show how much the Word of God influences and changes the way we think. How it shows us what Christian encouragement should sound like and what it should look like. These are difficulties that will sanctify you, Joni… set yourself apart… change you… make you more like Christ. Hey, I am all for studying the Word of God like these three sisters, especially in this new year. And I want you to join me in committing to a new level of study in God’s Word this year. I want to send you a 14-page foldout on exactly how to do an inductive Bible study. This little thing has got maps, it’s got suggested passages to study, it’s got basic principles on how to study, the best tools recommended…all kinds of stuff. I have it up today on my radio page at joniandfriendsradio.org – just click on the little picture of the cover of this 14-page foldout on how to study the Bible and you will be on your way. I love this Bible study help and I’m sure you will, too. So join the group, join Rachel, join me, and Lindsey and Eva and let’s make 2009 a year of Soli deo Gloria! That’s glory to God in 2009!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends