Joy as a Choice Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10b I remember a song that we used to sing years ago called "This Joy that I Have". One of the verses says "the world didn't give to me and the world can't take it away". As I've matured as a woman and as a daughter of the Lord, I've realized that while the world didn't give us joy and the world does not have the authority to take it away, somehow we tend to put aside our joy and when pick up the cares of this world. In order to live in the joy of Lord, we must adhere to John 15:10-11 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy remain in you and that your joy may be full." We must choose to abide and obey. Somehow, our joy becomes more of a burden than a strength. When we are dealing with issues, we don't always choose to mediate on the goodness of Jesus and rest right there. When the pain of life is aching in our souls, joy is not instantly the first thing that comes to mind and all too often, many fall prey to the enemy's traps. Weakness settles into our spirits and before you know it, we are feeling defeated and depressed. But, we don't have to stay in that place because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Here are few truths about the joy of the Lord: 1. Joy is limitless. 2. Joy knows no boundaries. 3. Joy can be activated at will. 4. Joy cannot be contained. 5. Joy = STRENGTH! You can activate your limitless joy that knows no boundaries or cannot be contained and obtain strength today. Choose the joy of the Lord to obtain your strength today by choosing to abide and obey. Looking forward, Tracy Gale Let's Pray Father, it is in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that I approach your throne today. Lord, I lay at your feet every burden, every weight and every sin that has so easily beset me. Father, I repent and ask your forgiveness for not choosing to abide in your love or fully obeying your commandments. Lord, it is my desire to completely receive and rest in your love, trusting that You will be all that I need in my life. Now, Lord, I stir up the well of Joy inside my spirit today and I activate it in my life to manifest as strength. I choose to count it all Joy and I raise the level of expectation in my spirit that you will do exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or think according to the power that works within me. In the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen. ©2007 Copyright, Tracy Gale Thornton. All Rights Reserved. DISCLAIMER: The Tuesday Morning Encouragement is copyright protected and may be re-posted and distributed only when all material including title, content, author and copyright statement is kept in original form. |
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