Tag Archives: thank the Lord

Christianity, Fruit of Spirit, Healing, Inspiration, Salvation, Wisdom

Filled with Joy

Christmas ornament imprint the word joy

As Christmas approaches very quickly we often become to busy with shopping, cooking, parties, and family gatherings to realize the true joy within our lives. While spending time with loved ones important this season as it should be all the time, let’s take a deep look into the term joy. As you read this article of mine, list some of the struggles you are going through in life whether it be health, family, financial, or emotional, and see how you can apply joy to that particular situation.

 

Galatians chapter 5 discusses the nine fruits of the Spirit which help us walk in the Holy Spirit. The nine fruits of the Spirit are characteristics one should have that is a true follower of Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”. Joy is happiness from the consistent promises of God within His word. We have joy when God gives us provisions according to His word. This can come from anything from a healing to a financial need that is supernaturally met. If you are a true born-again Christian then you already have one thing to be joyful for, and that is your salvation. Psalm 21:1 says, “O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!”.

 

So why should we always be joyful? Since joy is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit we must apply joy to our character. When we apply the fruits of the Spirit to our character, we are walking within the Spirit and not the flesh. Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”. You might be weak in one of the nine fruits of the Spirit if so turn to God to help you with your weakness. We must remember our strength comes from the Lord. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”.

 

So why must you apply joy even when going through a rough patch in life? First Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”. Notice the scriptures uses the word abound which has the following synonyms listed in the Webster’s dictionary: be plentiful, be abundant, be numerous, be full of, and overflow with. Also, Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”. The more time we spend rejoicing and in prayer, the less stressed out we will be. Spending time worrying is just wasting time that you could be praying. We are to continue our joy even in trials, and our perseverance during our trials will be dependent upon our joy. James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”.

 

When we get distracted by things of the flesh we walk out of the Spirit. This can make our circumstances worse for us because when we walk by flesh and not Spirit it opens the door for the enemy to work. John 16:22 says, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”. While we will have our trials here on Earth, we must remember that if our hearts are right and if we are walking in the Spirit we have eternal life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  The scripture of John 3:16 is one reason every believer should be filled with joy. Many secular views tell us that heaven will be a place of partying and a good time. This secular view is completely wrong and will hinder one from walking within the Spirit. Heaven will be a place of praise and worship to our creator. Romans 14:17 tells us, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”. I believe that God wants us to walk in the Spirit as much as possible when we are here on Earth so that we can rejoice in heaven.

 

I challenge you to be filled with joy during times of struggle and seek God for strength. By walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, we can expect to see more of God’s promises in our lives. Also by spending less time worrying, and more time in prayer, we will have more hope. As Christmas approaches quickly, be joyful for at least one thing, if not more, and that is the birth of our Savior.

 

Christianity, Inspiration

Always Thankful

thanksgiving harvest food

Since today is Thanksgiving, we all have a lot to be thankful for. Whether it be friends, family, health, financials, and many more. One of the most important things to be thankful for is our salvation through Jesus and Gods great love. Psalm 118:14 says, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”.  Furthermore Colossians 3:16-17 tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”.

Thanksgiving is a time of year when we give thanks for what we have. Many people focus on giving thanks during this period when we should be giving thanks for all we have every day of our lives. This is true when giving thanks to the Lord.  We must be thankful every day for what Christ did for us. As the scripture tells us we must let His Word dwell in us.  His Word provides us wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:24 tells us “but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”.  One of my previous blog posts was on seeking God for wisdom, it is so important to seek Him for wisdom every day with the many decisions we make. When He gives us wisdom on what to do or say, we are to give Him thanks.

His Word also provides us hymns and spiritual songs, which we are to be thankful for.  We have many traditional and modern songs to worship with today, many new songs come out regularly. While being careful of which songs are genuine spiritual songs, we should praise the Lord and give thanks to Him by singing songs of joy. Psalm 71:23 says, “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.”. Praising God and praying to God can go hand in hand. When you are praying to God for a healing or provision start worshiping him, Psalm 95:2 says “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”.

In times of trouble, we must remember Gods promises and give thanks for those promises, even before breakthrough occurs. I am thankful for Isaiah 53:5 for His will on healing, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed.”. He also promised that He would never leave us, there are many times we feel alone when the things of this world crush in on us. I am thankful for His promise in Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”.

When we are waiting for a breakthrough, we must have faith. God never promised that we would be healed instantly, or that provisions would happen instantly. A healing from God could happen instantly or gradually. The important thing to do is have a steadfast faith, be consistent in your faith. We get too focused on what the enemy has done or is doing, instead, we need to focus in on God word. You might have a sickness you have been battling for years that is incurable by man. The doctors might tell you that you will have this disease all your life, and you will have to take medication all your life to live. While what the doctors are telling you is true in the natural part of life, we must remember that God is in the supernatural or spiritual. By holding onto His promises in a steadfast faith the spiritual can overturn the natural by God’s will. Matthew 19:26 says, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”. So, seek God with thanksgiving in advance for what man says is impossible or that there is no way and be steadfast about receiving it according to His will. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”.