Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Many of us will spend years believing that when we finally get that promotion, when we get out of debt, when we find that special someone or we buy the perfect house, we’ll live happily ever after. In reality, that is simply not the case. Please understand that joy is not synonymous with happiness. Happiness is temporary and fickle whereas joy is permanent and settled. Joy is not an emotion but an attitude. That means that you can choose to be joyful regardless of your circumstances. Joy is not found in people, places or things but it is found in doing what He has predestined us to do. That joy becomes our strength in difficult places. It is that joy the causes us to become steadfast in turbulent times.
Joy comes only when Christ is the priority in our lives. When we put God first, everything else falls in line. Real joy comes when we let go of the world’s idea of happiness and embrace the joy of the Lord.
Psalms 16:11 (NIV) You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
This portion of the fruit of the spirit is God’s gift to you that will be your strength no matter where you are in life.
POWER POINTS
🔥 Joy comes when Christ is the center of our lives;
🔥 Allow the joy of the Lord to strengthen every part of your life
Prayer For Today:
Father, I decree and declare that your joy is my strength, even on those days when I can’t see my way clear, your joy strengthens me. Even when someone walks out of my life or I lose a loved one to death, I find strength in your joy. I choose to not allow happiness to set the tone for my life but rather I will allow the fruit of joy to have center stage in my life so that the world will see that to walk in the joy of the Lord is to be filled with hope in the Lord - In Jesus’ name. Amen