A Threefold Gift - Part 2

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Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:26

FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional

Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 13, 2016

A Threefold Gift – Part - 1
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge and joy" (Ecclesiastes 2:26),

To those who are good in God’s sight He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy, and how can that be except we walk in covenant-relationship with Him, Jesus our Master, and the Holy Spirit.

It is heartening to know that Jesus wants us to have fullness of joy. He told us about this at John 15:10-11 and it all has to do with covenant-relationship with Him: abiding with Him and having His words abide in us. It also has to do with obeying what He says and abiding in His love. He said: "These things have I spoken to you that my joy might remain in you..."

And at Nehemiah 8:10 we read: “...for the joy of the Lord is your strength” indicating that out of the Lord’s joy we receive strength—not merely physical strength, but its spiritual counterpart.

Joy is a gift from God. Joy is spiritual. Joy exists. And when we experience joy, it is not merely of ourselves but it is the joy of the Lord being manifested in and through us.

Sometimes, adverse forces seem to overwhelm us and keep God’s joy away from us, however, we can quickly turn those situations around by recognizing that the joy of the Lord exists and that we can experience it.

Just as there is peace in the midst of every storm, so there is joy in the midst of every sorrowful situation, however, when in need of joy, we need to seek it from God and speak it into our lives. This could lead us to break forth into singing joyful songs, reading and meditating in Scriptures of joy and quickly bring unpleasant cycles to an end.

Are you experiencing the opposite of joy at this time? You can break that unpleasant cycle by knowing that there is a well-spring of joy deep within your spirit and with the help of Christ, you could bring it into manifestation.

Knowing that there is death and life are in the power of the tongue, even in the midst of your sorrow, you can speak words of joy into your life.

SUGGESTED READINGS: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 16:11; John 15:10-11; John 16:24.
PRAYER: “Heavenly Father, help me to realize that joy is a gift from you and I can have it exceedingly abundant in my life. Help me to know that your joy is my strength. Thank you Father for your joy in me. Amen.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
True spiritual joy is a gift from God.