This weeks promise. God promises to fill you with joy
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
When we are born again, we are filled with God’s joy for He has just poured out His love into our hearts. I know for me that it felt so overwhelming that I wasn’t sure I could contain it all! Different people experience this differently and at different times. Again, although we usually consider this joy an emotion, it’s really much more then that. It’s an attribute of God and a fruit of the spirit that is given us by Him for our encouragement and to strengthen us. Once saved, we tend to crave more of God, like we can’t get enough of Him. This is also from the Lord. He uses this joy to cause this craving so that we will open that Bible and learn more of Him! He uses this to draw us closer to Himself so that we can grow in our faith, becoming mature and not lacking anything. However, being human, we tend to grow closer to Him during adversity. We often forget all about one of our strongest weapons during these hard times, which is God’s love and joy. Instead we tend to wallow in what’s going on in our lives. Let’s try today to remember that the Lord has not left us alone to face the world and our trials in it. He is right here with us, both standing beside us strengthening us and dwelling within us, always ready to fill us with His joy and love! All we need to do is to focus on Him instead of on ourselves, our circumstances and the world. Let the Lord fill you with His joy today, and we will praise Him together!
John 14:18-20 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
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