Tag Archives: Joy

“Joy Comes In The Morning”

by • on 12:33 PM • in 320, Journaling

 

December, 23, 2011

 

Scripture

John 16:20 (NASB)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.

 

Observation

Life is tough! And Jesus told His disciples to expect to be persecuted, hated and betrayed by the world, loved ones and even friends. Since sin entered the world in the garden of Eden, life has simply become difficult.

While the world parties and rejoices and lives for entertainment and self-pleasure, the life of a follower of Jesus Christ is very difficult and often filled with tears. Jesus says that it is through many trials and tribulations that we enter the kingdom of heaven. The world has its heaven in the here and now, and they live the good life – rejoicing and partying and living each day to their hearts desire. The believer’s paradise is eternal, as the Apostle Peter says:

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Wow! Praise God! To suffer now through many trials and tribulations for the sake of Christ is of great eternal reward!

 

Application

Do not be discouraged! Life can be so difficult, but that does not mean that God doesn’t love you, and neither does it mean that He doesn’t care about you. He is with you and He stands for you, nothing has the power to destroy your life. It may at times feel like life is too much to bear, but it is through our tears that we enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus suffered many things in this life, and He told us to expect the same. The great things is, is that He leads us every step of the way. God doesn’t send us through the valley of the shadow of death alone, He leads us – He is there every moment with us.

I am reminded of again what the Apostle Peter said in his epistle:

1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”  19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I rejoice today in my tears of suffering. Many my sorrow be turned to joy today; I’m trading my sorrow; I’m trading my shame; I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord! I’m trading my sickness, I’m trading my pain, I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord! I’m pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, Struck down but not destroyed! I’m blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure, And his joy’s gonna be my strength!!!!
Though the sorrow may last for the night, His joy comes with the morning

And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen!!!!

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“Choosing To Rejoice!” 2 Corinthians 13:11

by • on 9:18 PM • in 320, Exhortation, Life Journal

Scripture

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB)
11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observation

Paul now ends his 2nd letter to the church of Corinth with an exhortation on how to live. They are to rejoice! And Paul doesn’t say “When things are good”-but rather just “Rejoice!” Paul also states that they are to be made “complete” or “mature”. They are to be growing and maturing in their faith. They are also to be comforted, or to “take comfort” that they are living in joy and maturing spiritually. Paul also says that they are to be like-minded, which can only take place when believers fix their hearts upon the Lord. The end result of being like-minded produces peace between man and God and among men.  Paul says they were to live in peace. Literally they were to dwell in the state of peace which can only come from God via His methods – as Paul states within this verse. The fruit of the Spirit is made manifest when believers obey God’s Word. God’s love and peace is with all who live in obedience.

Application

Today I must rejoice in all things, through all things and in spite of many things. My job is not to ‘right the world’, because only God can do that and only in His time. My focus today is to be given to joy, grow in my faith, be content in Christ, abide in fellowship with like-minded believers and chose to live in peace! As I choose to this and obey God, HIs love and peace will abound upon my life today! Focus on these things and my life will be made complete!

Prayer

Father today I choose to love You and obey You in all things. I choose to ignore all that the world has to offer that would lure me away from Your love and Your peace and would lure me away from total devotion to You. You alone are my Lord, my God and my satisfaction. May I take joy in serving You. May my day be so blessed as a result of following You! Thank You for the plans You have for me! By faith I receive YOur blessings upon my life!!! Amen.

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“Hush Be Still” (Daily Devotions 2.25.11)

by • on 7:32 PM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Mark 4:39
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

O – Observation

Jesus and His disciples had been very busy ministering to the people and tending to a very busy schedule. At the end of one specific day, jesus said to His disciples, “let’s get in the boat and cross over to the other side.” As they were crossing the sea of Galilee, there arose a fierce gal wind and the waves of the sea began crashing down upon their little boat. The disciples were extremely fearful, but Jesus was asleep in the stern of the little boat. Christ the Lord was not affected by the circumstances. Because His peace did not come from His circumstances, neither could His circumstances rob Him of His peace. His peace came from God alone, therefore neither heaven nor hell could rob Christ of His peace. Apparently the disciples peace was predicated upon their circumstances. Apparently their peace came from what was or wasn’t going on in their lives, because when the storm rose up, they lost their joy and peace and contentment. As a result of basing their peace upon their external circumstances, when the storm came, they soon discovered that their peace was not from the Lord. In John 14:27, Jesus said ”Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” After the disciples had foolishly accused the Lord of not caring about them, he arose and rebuked the wind saying “Hush be still!” And immediately the wind and the waves died down. The disciples then experienced the peace of God, but because Christ was with them, they could have had that same peace even while in the midst of the storm.

A – Application

God is in control of the universe. My little problems sometimes may feel overwhelming to me, but they are miniscule in the eyes of my Lord. I have a choice today to abide in the peace of God, or the misery and dis-contentment of the world. The world cannot give me peace, not peace like Christ gives. If I seek my peace today from external sources, then external sources also retain the power to take that peace away. If I seek peace through being able to pay my bills, then when I can’t pay my bills, the inability to pay my bills will rob me of my peace. When I don’t understand what I am going through, then I must ever more clearly keep my eyes upon the Lord. Life is full of storms. Sometimes I think I have the “Peace of God which surpasses all understanding”, and then a problem comes up, and suddenly I’m filled with fear. It’s then that I discover that my peace was predicated upon my temporal, external environment, not the Lord. God does not allow storm to come up to overwhelm me, but rather to prove His power to maintain His peace in my life, even through the most difficult days. Storms have no authority to rob me of my peace when my peace has been given to me by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is all I need, Jesus is all i need!

P – Prayer

Father I thank You today for Your peace. Your peace that surpasses the human understanding. Your peace that brings joy and holds me upright in the midst of life’s trials. I love You and I thank You that today, nothing has the authority to sink my life, because You are at the helm, and I am Yours. As I abide in You today, may Your peace, Your love, Your joy and Your total contentment be the power that rules my life! Be glorified in and through every storm. I thank You for Your peace that is neither given by this world, nor can it be taken away by the world. You are my all in all, and today I seek You will all of my heart and mind and soul as I abide in You! Amen!


 

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