Written by Missionary Bruce
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”-Luke 2:10
Thanksgiving is around the corner where we take a moment to be grateful for all the things that Jesus has done for us. As we head into the holiday season, it is best to keep a heart of gratitude. The scripture declares in John 16: 33: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus is reminding us that there will be times when we will go through unpleasant things and feel troubled. However, He also went through great tribulations that lead to His sacrifice for the world. With this sacrifice, we have access to all of the wonderful gifts and talents that he gives to us. It is important to remain in joy despite your circumstances. Below reminds us on a few things to keep in mind in order to remain in the Spirit of joy.
‘J’ - is for Joy - A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
The fruit of the Spirit includes joy which is something that the Holy Spirit will give to you when you are walking in the Spirit. The Spirit of joy is a feeling that remains in you even when things around you may seem to be falling apart. Standing on the promises of God will give you all of the strength you need to get through the day. Just thinking about the goodness of God and what he has done for us gives us the desire to sing praises on to him, to worship him, and to testify of his goodness. The Spirit of joy will allow us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It gives us the strength to get through the day. Focusing on the Word of God, will ignite us with the passion and drive to be the light of the world that God urges us to be in the bible.
Keep shining as you continue to bask in the joy of the Lord!
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
‘O’ - is for Optimism - Hopeful and confident about the future.
As a believer in Christ, optimism is very important. When you are walking with Christ, we must understand that he is the author and the finisher of our faith who wants the best for us. We must recognize the positives in every situation in order to remain in hope. The scripture reminds us that a merry heart is like medicine, it heals our wounds. Let us try our best to be of a merry heart and confident that the Lord will take us into the best path. Continue to fast, pray, and read the Word, and you will see the power of God manifest in the flesh.
Knowing that God will always look out for you allows your heart to receive the blessings that he has in store for you!
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous: and all these things shall be added unto you”
‘Y’ - is for yearning - A feeling of intense longing for something.
As we strive to remain in the spirit of Joy, we must remember the importance of constantly seeking after the things of God and his righteousness. In order for us to reap the benefits of walking with God, we must build a relationship with him. We must constantly strive to be obedient to his Word. Abraham’s relationship with God was due to his desire to be close to him and to listen to the instructions that he had for him. Although Abraham and Sarah had to wait so long for the promises of God to be fulfilled, he did not allow his desires to derail him from his ability to serve God in Spirit and in Truth.
Continue to seek his face daily and watch things in your life unfold!
Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let Earth receive her King! Remember to remain in the Spirit of joy, be optimistic in all things, and continue to yearn for the will of God to take full control over your life.
God Bless you all!