Pastor
Anita
These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full (John 15:11).
The words of the Master
above help us understand that the life of joy stems from a life of fellowship
with the Lord. Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." A life of
righteousness, peace, and joy is the result of our fellowship with the Holy
Spirit and His glorious Word.
Nehemiah 8:10 says,
"…the joy of the Lord is your strength"; this refers to the joy that
fellowshipping with the Lord inspires in your heart. The Apostle Peter
describes it as joy unspeakable and full of glory: "Whom having not seen,
ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8).
As we fellowship with
the Lord, though we don’t see Him with our optical eyes, our hearts are knit
with Him in joy: the joy of knowing Him, the joy of serving Him, the joy of
being called by His Name, and the joy of being made partakers (associates) of
the God-kind. This joy transcends physical circumstances and emotions; it’s
what keeps us standing on God’s Word, counting it all joy, even when we go
through diverse tests (James 1:2). The people of the world can’t explain why
we’re able to maintain a joyful spirit in the midst of unnerving and
trying circumstances; it’s because the joy of the Lord is our strength.
You were born into a
life of rejoicing; therefore, refuse to allow anything make you sad,
discouraged or downcast. You don’t need a humourist or jester to make this
happen; the joy of the Lord is in your spirit; you can stir up joy from within
through fellowship with the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you
for bringing me into union with you, and for ordaining me to be fruitful and
productive in every good work, joyfully bringing forth fruits unto
righteousness. I yield my heart to your Spirit today in fellowship; in the
process, your joy abounds in my heart, and I bear much more fruits, in Jesus’
Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d
y: John 15:5-6; 1 John 1:6-7
Daily
Scripture Reading
1 Year Reading Plan : 1
Chronicles 3-4 John 15:1-17
2 Year Reading Plan :
Mark 14:12-21 Numbers 33
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