Day 1 - Week 68 - Are you feeling the joy?

I hope these weeks of filling our hearts with Scriptures regarding God's kind of happiness have made a difference in your outlook of your life.  We should see our lives as opportunities to explain the joy that is within us.  Just as Peter tells us, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," I think we should also be ready to share the reason for the joy  that we have.  But that requires being a joyful person.  When people's first thought of us is one of negativity, they probably aren't looking to us as a source of joy.  We should be the ones that people turn to when they need uplifting and encouragment...are we filling that role in the lives of those around us? 

I want to be remembered as someone who added light to this life, even in times of darkness; who encouraged someone when they were feeling that life had really let them down; who reminded someone that, no matter what, God in heaven hears their prayer, sees their situation and loves them enough to leave heaven's glory, come to earth, and save them from despair.  The supernatural joy of God is most apparent when the situations we are immersed in are joyless---that's when our light shines the strongest. The kind of joy that emerges when it doesn't quite make sense to anyone else does not form in our lives just at the time we need it the most...it is a joy that has been acquired over years of trusting God through everything life has brought us, good and bad, so that it has become embedded in our very being.  A joy that sees through the clouds to the promise of tomorrow's sunshine.

Our next verse is another simple one, and if you got the source down for last week's verse, which was its hardest part, then this week is really going to be easy.  Another two worder!  And neither of the words is joy!  But it is the instructional verse on how to acquire and keep joy in our lives.  Do you know how?

1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray constantly."  Robert J. Morgan introduces this verse by saying, "Pray constantly is midway through a trilogy of tiny, personality-altering verses at the end of 1 Thessalonians.  Millions have memorized this verse from the King James Version as 'Pray without ceasing,' wondering if it's really possible to do that." 

Well, this week we will talk about how our prayer life affects the joy in our life.  How we pray, how often we pray, what we expect from our prayers. 

Let's review our recent verses and then we'll continue our journey!

Obedience (10)
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle word turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath."

The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
John 15:11 "I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."

Wishing you a day where your heart experiences the joy of God's love!

Day 4 - Week 67 - 1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."

To be honest, I'm going to hate leaving this verse...first because of its simplicity, and second because it is such a great reminder of the joy we are to have, no matter what!

In Priscilla Shirer's Bible Study, "Seed", the second session covers Scriptures that remind us that whatever we have been given by God, through our faith in Jesus, is enough.  We do not have to be whiny children constantly asking for more when we realize that He has given us everything we need to accomplish whatever it is that He is asking of us, and we need no more than that.  Isn't that a great realization to come to terms with?  If I need something to do what God sets before me to do, He'll supply it.  Otherwise, "don't need it!"  Being freed from the need for more and more stuff can certainly be a reason for a big shout of a hallelujah kind of joy!

God is enough - He gives us enough - we can rejoice in the fact that He will not turn His back on His children.  He sees, He hears, He cares.  When we feel that He hasn't supplied our needs for some reason or another, we need to reevaluate that need and bring it before Him, asking His wisdom to determine if it was really a need, or possibly a "want." 

Can we deny that children throughout the world go to bed hungry and starving?  How is God supplying their needs?  I cannot presume to know the mind of God, but I know that He sees, that He hears, and that He cares for these children of His.  When faced with these questions, I have to trust in the God of the Bible who continually reminds us of His infinite love for humanity.  And I have to trust Him that He has purpose, and that sometimes He delivers those children from a world of suffering into His loving arms. 

Trusting in a God who promises me always "enough" in Him, enough to see me through this life to be ushered into His eternal home, gives me reason to be able to rejoice always.  I pray that I would say the same in circumstances much less comfortable than those I enjoy, and I absolutely pray for those around the world who at this very moment are feeling forgotten....you are not.  He is there.  He sees, He hears, He cares.