Pray for Genuine Joy in Knowing God Better

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  As you drink in the joy of the Lord, remember to pray for your friends.

            Much can be gleaned from the verse in Ephesians 1:18:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

We’ve discussed this week

• the eyes of your heart
• enlightenment by listening to the Holy Spirit
• the hope to which God has called us
• and His glorious inheritance that we are promised as His holy people.

           Is there any other “jewel of joy” we can uncover in this verse?  Timothy Keller points out that “Paul does not pray for the goods we would usually have near the top of our lists of requests. Instead he frequently prayed that his friends would know God better. That was what was most important…to have the ‘eyes of their hearts’ enlightened”. 

    Keller goes on to explain: “Biblically, the heart is the control center of the entire self. It is the repository of one’s core commitments, deepest loves, and most foundational hopes that control our feeling, thinking, and behavior. To have the ‘eyes of the heart enlightened’ with a particular truth means to have it penetrate and grip us so deeply that it changes the whole person. …then we not only understand it cognitively, but emotionally we find God’s holiness wondrous and beautiful, and we avoid attitudes and behavior that would displease or dishonor him.”) Excerpt from PRAYER by Timothy Keller )

            Let’s pray for each other to be enlightened and experience the joy of knowing Him better!

Know His HOPE and Find His JOY

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I hope and pray that you have! It leads to abundant joy!

            Let’s look again at the prayerful words of Paul in Ephesians 1:18: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” 

              Why does Paul pray for the Ephesian Christians to "know the hope" of their calling?  In the words of Boyd Bailey: “Hope facilitates faith. It produces love. It takes the allure out of temptation. It comforts sorrow and anticipates answered prayer. Hope is heaven’s reminder to remain faithful for there is much more beyond this life. Hope lives obedient in the present and trusts God with the future. Paul knew if they cherished hope their praise and worship of the Lord would be uninhibited and full of glory. Like a microscope, hope sees the Spirit at work in minute ways and like a telescope, hope is able to focus on the vastness of God’s handiwork.”

            Do you know that kind of “hope” for which God has called you?  He truly desires to enlighten the eyes of your heart so that you will grow deeper in your understanding of what wonderful, abundant, joyful things are in store for you….."the riches of his glorious inheritance" (as Paul describes it to the Ephesians.)

            Open the eyes of your heart and see the hope you have in God…which leads to "indescribable, glorious joy!"  (1 Peter 1:8)

Think Joy! Feel Joy! Live Joy!

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  No pressure, but it does your heart good!  

            Joyce Meyer writes: “Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple, joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions or expectations of man.” 

            I believe what this author is referring to is the “enlightenment of the eyes of our heart” as mentioned in Ephesians 1:18.  Our heart is the “thinking instrument” of our soul; it is the seat of our emotions.  When Paul speaks of the “eyes of the Christian heart” being enlightened, he is asking God to help us grasp the revelation of His Truth. He wants the revelations to move, motivate, and deepen our spiritual insight, and feel the genuine emotion of joy.   

But we must be careful. Yes, it is okay to FEEL the truth with our emotions, but it is not okay to be led by the emotions of the heart alone.  Jeremiah 17:9 warns that the heart is impossible to understand and is deceitful.  No wonder the heart needs eyes to see what the mind is learning from God!  

Search the scriptures for wisdom and allow the Truth to permeate your heart…then drink in the joy as you  comprehend the jewels and gems of Biblical wisdom. 

            Think Joy! Feel Joy! Live Joy by applying God’s Truth to your life!

Much of this info. came from: (http://facingtrials.com/the-eyes-of-your-heart/)

Be a Joy-filled David!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Look carefully into the Word of God so that you will be enlightened and will be able to recognize God’s gifts of joy in your life.

            When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, “He’s so big we can never kill him!”  But young David had a different perspective. He looked at the same giant and thought, “He’s so big, I can’t miss.”  The eyes of David’s heart were enlightened; he was focused on the truth that God was with Him… and with God, nothing is impossible.  He had an unwavering faith in a mighty God that he knew would not desert him.

           

            We will never be totally affected and changed until the eyes of our heart are enlightened. When truth is moved from the head down to the heart, it grips the emotions; then the will is properly motivated. That is when we begin to grow spiritually. 

            As we are reminded by the words in Joshua 1:9:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

May we be faithful in our prayers…even when things appear impossible!  Ask God to strengthen your faith and enlighten the eyes of your heart. Faithful prayer shortens one of the longest distances known by humanity which is the distance between our head and our heart. 

            Be strong; be courageous; be enlightened and be JOYful!

May the Eyes of Your Heart See Joy

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  When you are looking with the “eyes of your heart”, you will find Sparkling Joy Juice all along your way.

            In Ephesians 1:15 – 19, Paul says to the believers in Ephesis:  

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus  and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

            Did you hear the term “eyes of your heart”?  Our eyes are what give us sight.    Seeing is very important as we go throughout our busy lives.  Out of all the muscles in our body, the muscles that control our eyes are the most active. Those are our physical eyes…But what about our “spiritual eyes”…the “eyes of our heart”?  

        "If you listen to truth in any area, the eyes of your mind are grasping ideas. But the apostle tells us here that not only does the mind have eyes, but the heart as well. The heart needs to see things, needs to grasp truth and understand it."  (Ray Stedman) 

            May the eyes of your heart “see” much joy in the Lord!

Delight in His Will, His Word and His Ways

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  The best recipe calls for genuine joy and delight in the things of God.

            This week we’ve examined the concept of “delighting in the Lord.”  We must realize that it’s not an abstract concept; nor is it just a term for being a happy Christian. Often people quote the verse in Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

            Misinterpretation of that verse leads people sometimes to think that God should give them everything they want.  They concentrate more on the latter part of the verse…about God giving us the desires of our heart….rather than putting the focus on the first part…delighting ourselves in the LORD.

          Let’s look at two other verses that may help us understand what it means to “delight ourselves in the Lord.”  

1.      Psalm 40:8
“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”  

2.      Romans 7:22
”For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.”

      Matthew Henry explains: “He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this: to know, and love, and live for God, to please him and to be pleased in him.”

            Let’s delight in His will, His Word and His ways!

"He Rescued Me Because He Delighted in Me"

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Even in the tough places, the joy of the Lord is as nourishing as ever.

             Throughout the Bible we are told to delight in the Lord.  And we see time and time again where He delights in His children. That should give us hope, regardless of whether we are in a deep valley or high on a mountain top.

            In Psalm 18 David pours out his heart in song for the divine ears of God.  These words give hope and encouragement to those of us who read them today.  David was praising God for delivering him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

vv. 1-3 “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

v. 19 “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

            There is that word “delighted” again. David experienced God’s love and joy….during the struggles; and he praised God for that love and joy on the other side of “trouble mountain.” Knowing that God “delighted in him” gave him the strength and perseverance he needed.

            No matter what side of “trouble mountain” you are on, always trust in the deliverance of a Heavenly Father who loves you and delights in you.

Sing a Song of Delight and Joy

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Take delight in knowing that there is always plenty of joy in the Lord…enough for you personally and plenty to share!

            Psalm 149:4-5 is a great reminder of the truth of how God delights in His children. “For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.”

           

            It brings such healing and fulfillment to our hearts to know that…as children of God…He takes delight in us.  That should bring indescribable joy to our hearts.  However, let’s look at it from a little different perspective today. 

            John Piper says that we need to be very careful not to let our focus be in the wrong place. In Piper’s own words: “The teaching that God delights in us can be very dangerous. Very true but very dangerous. The reason it is so dangerous is that we are fallen and the chief pleasure of our fallen nature is self-exaltation. Our sinful nature loves to be praised for what we are and what we have done."

          "God’s praises of us will do us good, if we hear them as confirming that we are truly delighting in him. God’s praise of our delight in God is meant to help us to keep on delighting in God, and not be distracted by anything.”

           To put it simply: Rejoice in God…not self or even God’s delight in us!  Sing a song of joy, praising the LORD who delights in a sincere heart. 

God Delights in YOU!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Delight in the Lord as you drink in His satisfying joy.

            Don’t you think that God is delighted when we are walking with Him?  We can be sure that is true because we have the promise of scripture. In Zephaniah 3:17 we read: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

            Why does God delight in His children? First and foremost, He loves us! And though we make mistakes, though we are a sinful people….His love is everlasting.  Of course, He rejoices when our thinking and our actions line up with His Word…when we do what is right.  

  According to John Piper: “ ‘Rightness’  is thinking, feeling, and doing what flows from a true perception of the supreme value of God. It is seeing truly, savoring duly, and showing consistently in action the infinite worth of God. Therefore, we are doing what is right when we are understanding the truth of God’s value for what it is, and feeling it proportionately to his universal supremacy, and acting in ways that express God’s supreme value.”  

God rejoices and delights in us; He is greatly pleased when we truly value Him.  

            Delight in the Lord and know that He delights in you!  

Delight in the Lord!

        Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It has a delightful taste and a special flavor just for you!

            I have found myself focused on the word “delight” recently.  It’s a beautiful word and not only do I like to read the written word, I like to hear it spoken.  However, I have found it most “delightful” when I discover it in God’s Word!

            The idea of “delight” occurs approximately 110 times in Scripture…in both the Old and New Testaments. The basic definition in the Merriam-Webster dictionary explains why I love this word:  "A high degree of gratification of mind; a high-wrought state of pleasurable feeling; extreme satisfaction; joy"  You heard it, didn’t you?  JOY!  Now, keep that in mind as we look at some delightful scriptures.

            Let’s begin with a favorite: Psalm 37:4 

 ^"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

           
            Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts are filled with joy in Him. Our satisfaction and value in Christ brings us the longings of our hearts. Now, that does not mean the we can making our long  “shopping list” of things we’d like to have and God will fill it! But we can depend on Him to “fill our hearts” with joy in Him and make us content.  When we truly rejoice (or delight) in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel His and we will never go unfulfilled. 

            Delight in the Lord and get ready for blessings of joy!

YET....I WIll Be Joyful!

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Not yet?  Well, drink up so that you will be sensitive to God’s joy gifts throughout the day!

           In Habakkuk 3:17-18, we read a portion of Habakkuk’s pray. He was lamenting, yet pledging his commitment to God.

           

17  Though the fig tree should not blossom
         And there be no fruit on the vines,
         Though the yield of the olive should fail
         And the fields produce no food,
         Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
         And there be no cattle in the stalls,

18  Yet I will exult in the LORD,
         I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

          Maybe we can understand that passage better if we were to put it in today’s terminology:

Though I have lost my job or do not have a salary that meets my expenses… Though I’m not sure where my next meal will come from or how I’m going to pay my bills… Though my health is failing… though my children are wayward . ….YET I will praise the Lord and rejoice because I know that He has granted me salvation in Him, and that is truly the most important thing.              As Paul says in Philippians 1:21…..”even if I die…..it will be GAIN…because I will be with Jesus for eternity. Remember his words: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

            Do we trust God like Habakkuk and Paul?  He’s the same God; He remains faithful through the ages; and He is the Giver of all good gifts. That includes the gift of joy!

Gifts of Joy in Brokenness

      Have you had your Joy Juice today?  It’s packed with healing ingredients which can lead to more joy in your life.

Take a minute to go back in your memory bank and recall some of your times of trial….especially those times of brokenness. They were not happy times, were they? But if your allowed your faith in God to sustain you, now you can see good which came from that difficult time of brokenness. Wonderful gifts such as:

• The awareness of God’s faithfulness
• You are more sensitive and tuned in to His touch on your life in ways that you didn’t notice before.
• Hopefully, you have a deeper relationship with Him.
• You can empathize with others who are going through similar circumstances.
• You possess a strength that you know is not from yourself but is God’s power manifesting itself in you.
• Through those tough times, you became more dependent on God and less dependent on yourself. 

      When we allow God to teach us through the hard times, we can “count it all joy” because we know that ultimately this will be for our good.  Let’s keep 1 Peter 5:7 in the forefront of our heart and mind: “Cast(ing) all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

       Claim all the joy God has for you by placing your trust in Him.

Drink in His Joy...Even in the Tough Times

           Have you had your Joy Juice today? Drinking in the joy of the Lord…even in your brokenness…is a GOOD thing!

              When we hear the word “broken” we usually associate it with something “not so good”. But in the positive spiritual sense, brokenness is the condition of being completely subdued and humbled before the Lord, and as a result, completely yielded to and dependent upon Him.  THAT is a good thing! As Leah Dipascal wrote: “Unexpected turbulence creates an opportunity to experience more of God.” 

           So, though we tend to think brokenness is a bad thing…it can be ultimately a good thing!  Psalm 34:18 tells us: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” There is something about reaching a breaking point that often causes us to seek the Lord more sincerely.  If you’ve “been there”, you know exactly what I mean.

             Life is filled with challenges….and most often we are not prepared for those unexpected trials. Bad things happen to good people. It may be a devastating loss or a heartbreak so deep that it seems humanly impossible to get though it.  But with God’s faithfulness---His all sufficient grace and healing power---we can emerge stronger, our  relationships with others can become more genuine because we are more sensitive due to the experience. God can use us in a mightier way than ever before.

            Let’s thank God daily for opportunities to grow in the joy of the Lord.

HOPE in Christ = JOY in Jesus

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Rejoice…even when you’re not happy!

            The Bible tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord…..ALWAYS!"  It’s easy to rejoice when things are going well for us; when God answers our prayers; when we feel the “favor of God” in our lives. But what about when that heartache comes?  The times when the unexpected happens and are caught so off guard? Can we still “rejoice”?

            Each of us has had our hearts broken. It’s not a “joyful” place to be, is it? In this world, broken things are despised and thrown out. Damaged goods are rejected, and that sadly, sometimes includes people. The world is full of people with broken hearts, broken spirits and broken relationships.

            Keep in mind that there are some things in our lives that need to be broken: pride, self-will, stubbornness, and sinful habits. When we are broken, God compensates: He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). The Hebrew word used for the word "contrite"  means "crushed to powder." Do you ever feel as if your heart has been crushed to powder?

             There is always HOPE!  God has promised that He will NEVER leave us alone.  He is near, and if you let Him, He will deliver you out of the brokenness!

     All children of God can have hope and joy in Jesus!

JOY in Brokenness???

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Even when your heart is broken, the joy of the Lord is still available.

            Some of us may feel as if we are in an impossible situation.  We may be at a place of brokenness and hurt. Sometimes it’s because of our own unwise choices; but often it’s because of another’s person’s actions that negatively affect us. There are those times we don’t have a clue why we are in such an uncomfortable circumstance. We may be really tempted to give in and give up!

            How can there be joy in brokenness?  We most definitely are not happy about being hurt…but the joy of the Lord comes when we realize that we do have hope in Him. God always has a plan. He can use the heartache and brokenness to accomplish great things in our life.  When we are at the bottom and can’t understand why a loving God would allow this to happen, we simply must TRUST.

            Babbie Mason wrote a beautiful song entitled “Trust His Heart” and she reminds us with these powerfully healing words:  

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When don't see his plan,
When you can't trace his hand...
Trust His Heart.

          Trust in God brings JOY in the Lord!

Friday's Joy Juice: "Promises of Joy"

               Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Trust that God wants to bless you with a double portion of His joy today…and every day!  
 

            We’ve talked about God being the great “I AM”.   We’ve discussed this week the “I am”s  that Jesus used to describe Himself.  In John 10:30  Jesus proclaimed: “I and the Father are one.”          Because of that truth we can trust that we are under His watchful care.  When you begin to doubt His love for you, say to yourself:  

·        I am a child of God. That promise is in John 1:12 “But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children.”

Remind yourself:

·        I am a branch of the true vine. In John 15: 1, 5 Jesus said:  “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me--and I in him--bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.”

And never forget:

·        I am a friend of Jesus, as he tells us in John 15:15. “I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends…”.  

      Claim the promises found in scripture.  You are His child, a branch from the true Vine; you are His special friend! What great reasons for joy!

    

I AM...Joy

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I am certain that if you will consistently drink it, you will find immeasurable joy in the Lord.

            On seven different occasions, Jesus described himself as “I am”. We know that in the Old Testament, God said His name was “I AM THAT I AM”. (Exodus).  The seven ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus in John’s Gospel help us better understand the divinity of Jesus Christ.  

In John 6:35, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.”  John 8:12 tells us he is light. “I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."   He tell us in John 10:9 “I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."   “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” He said in John 10:11 “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6   And then in John 15:1: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”  Jesus’ words in John 10:30 tie this together with a beautiful ribbon of joy…… “I and the Father are one.”    Share this joy with others!

Where God Guides, He Provides His Joy

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Let’s not make any excuses…Drink in the joy every chance you get.

            Do you ever try to argue with God when He “tells” you to do something?  Maybe He has laid someone on your heart to help in some way and you think, “I’m not the person for that. She doesn’t know me well enough…or he knows me too well!  I don’t have the resources or the skills or the know-how.”  Excuses!

            Moses did the same thing.  In Exodus 3, he got his assignment to lead the Israelites out of slavery.  He was CERTAIN that God was making a mistake by choosing him for this task.  His excuses came out as:   

1. Who am I? He had a crisis of identity (v 11)
2. What is his name?  …a crisis of authority (v 13)
3. They will not believe me…..a crisis of faith (4:1)
4. I am not eloquent …a crisis of ability (4:10)
5. Send WHOMEVER else…..a crisis of obedience (4:13)  

Do you ever use those same kinds of excuses?  “God, who am I that you would choose me for that task?  Is it really You, God?  If I did try to fulfill this leading, who is going to listen to me? I’m not a good at things like this! I don’t have the talent that many others do.  God, please give this job to someone else…ANYBODY but me!"

As the saying goes, “Where God guides, He provides!” and that includes  plenty of Joy Juice to keep us refreshed and ready! No more excuses!!!

I AM Filled with His Joy

        Have you had your Joy Juice today!  I AM determined to find joy in every circumstance!  Won’t you join me?

            Most of us will admit that at times we doubt ourselves…our abilities….the job we’ve done…the way we are raising our children.  We may keep many of our thoughts to ourselves …but how often do you find yourself thinking:

• I am not smart enough.
• I am not equipped.
• I am not able to master that skill.
• I am not as talented as that person.
• I am not of use to God.
• I am not…….

 Lou Giglio has written a book entitled I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM.  Did you get that? Remember that God tells us in Exodus that His name is “I AM”. Listen to that title again: I AM NOT BUT I KNOW I AM.

      There’s a lot of truth wrapped up in the title, don’t you think?  Without God, the great “I AM”, we are nothing; with God, ALL things are possible. So often our focus is on what we cannot do….instead of what GOD can do. “In Exodus 3:1-6 we find where Moses had run from Egypt, but God was determined to use him for the task of bringing his people out of slavery there.  God spoke, warned of His holiness, described Who He was, and gave Moses the task.  With God’s help, Moses led the nation to freedom.”  (The Bible for Hope)

     Be determined to trust in the great “I AM”…and be filled with His power and joy.

     

"I AM"...The Source of True Joy

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  I try to continually drink in the joy of the Lord!  How about you?

             Often I am asked about how I can continue to talk about “joy” and where my ideas come from for these devotionals.  Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret! They don’t really come from me! I AM helpless.  However….I know the “getting place”.  And the great I AM is always there to plant ideas in my heart.  Though I am not able….the Great I AM is more than able to squeeze His Joy Juice from an old piece of fruit and produce plenty of Joy Juice to share.

            When I talk about “I AM”…do you know to Whom I am referring? Let’s go to Exodus 3:13-15 to find out.

Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" … This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

            God truly is the Great “I AM”!  There is nothing that He is not able to do. When you know “I AM”, you know The True Source everlasting joy.

Fill Up with Faith and Joy

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  What do you have planned for your day?  Will it be a day filled with work or play? Problems or pleasures? Worries or rewards?  Remember that if you are filled with the love of Christ, “the joy of the Lord will be your strength” in all circumstances.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

            We’ve talked a lot this week about being filled with the fullness of God. In order to experience that “fullness”, we must first empty ourselves of “self”. We can’t do that in our own strength, but it is possible with God. How?  By living out the verse in Psalm 16:11: “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.”

            When we “fill up” with faith in God, He will show us each step we should take on this path called “life”. And as we go, the promise of God is that He will fill us with joy…because we are in His Presence! He goes with us---wherever we go! We can never travel beyond His reach.  Not just on this earth…but throughout eternity! Joy here & joy now; and joy forever can be ours because of God’s amazing love!

           

            We receive power through the Holy Spirit to have the ability to receive Christ into our heart. This is God’s grace…Grace is God’s part and faith is our part. Your faith is proof of your love for God. Obedience to God proves your faith.

            Along your path of life, allow God to fill you! And get ready to overflow with His love and joy!

Filled with the Joy of Jesus

         Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Hope you are continually being filled with the joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

            In Ephesians 5:18, Paul teaches us to “be filled with the Spirit.”  Let’s think about what that means. When we are “filled with the Spirit”, we allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our lives rather than other forces. When He is in control, the result is an attitude of thanksgiving and joy.

           

            Often we may be confused about the difference between the “indwelling of the Holy Spirit” and the “filling of the Holy Spirit”.  Yes, there is a difference! As explained by one writer:

”All believers in Jesus Christ have God's Spirit living within them, or dwelling within them (John 14:16, Ephesians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 4:30); but not all believers live filled or controlled by the Spirit's power. Some Christians describe this distinction by saying believers have all of the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit may not have all of them. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation but we are filled by Him when we submit to Him.”   http://www.compellingtruth.org/filled-Holy-Spirit.html

             You see, we have a choice. We can quench or grieve the Holy Spirit by choosing to sin and hindering His work in our lives.  Or we can be obedient to God’s will and let the Holy Spirit work through us. When we relinquish control, He “fills our life; this leads to joy, thankfulness, and right relationships.” 

             Be filled and be joyfully blessed!