February 13, 2025
~J O Y~
***Means you are to experience the Lord your Savior with great pleasure or delight***
Read 1 Thessalonians 5
Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18…
16 “Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
No matter what you experience in life the JOY of the Lord is what will keep you in the will of God. Let that sink in for a moment. What if you had an argument with someone close to you and you set your mind to be in a grumbly mood the rest of the day, is that showing the JOY of the Lord? What if absolutely ridiculous and difficult things start happening completely out of your control and you decide to shake your fist at God for allowing such things to happen in your life… are you seeking JOY in every circumstance?
How do you seek JOY? How can you come to the place in your life where you are always JOYFUL?
You may not want to hear it…
But it comes down to having a prayerful and thankful heart… In EVERY situation! You belong to the Lord Jesus Christ! If you don’t fully understand what that means, then digging further into Scripture is what is prescribed. When you read and study God’s Word and live out the things you are learning, JOY will be the product of your increased wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
Are you stepping out of the will of God by not having JOY? If you discontinue praying with a sincere heart and don’t lay all your burdens, for good, at the foot of the cross, are you remaining in the will of God? Do you take your salvation for granted by making thankfulness something that doesn’t exist in your life?
Where does your life measure up to living in the will of God?
A believer and follower of Jesus should be JOYFUL…
When you discover the JOY that comes from the Lord, you should want to hold onto it tightly, never to let it go.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I want Your JOY to permeate my entire life. Not just when things are going well… I want Your JOY to be what’s flowing through my veins. In every difficult situation, help me to see it through Your eyes. Help me Lord to be thankful during hard circumstances that are beyond my control. I want to be joyful, thankful and sincere in my prayers. In Nehemiah 8:10 it says that the JOY of the Lord is my strength, I pray that this would be true in my life. Amen.