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A Planting of Faith Seeds for the Glory of the LORD
The Joy of the Lord…
“We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” (Colossians 1:11–12, The Message)
“It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy…” I understand Joy as the ability to celebrate and enjoy life under all circumstances especially when life is at its darkest and weakest and it is God that transforms the impossible to reality by giving us his Joy. Speaking from experience without “the Joy of the Lord” that is impossible.
I believe it is the Joy of the Lord that sets the stage for the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to transform some of what first appears to be bad things into good things. For example when I was first told I would need heart bypass surgery that was a bad thing yet when my doctor told me without it I would not have survived my November heart attack it was the Holy Spirit that helped me understand the bypass surgery as a good thing so in the Joy of the Lord I was able to celebrate it as life giving.
There’s no doubt in my mind that as you reflect back on your life you will be able to recall experiences of your own where God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit has been hard at work strengthening you and giving you their joy enabling you to celebrate them with the Joy of the Lord.
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah gives us some advice on celebrating life with the Joy of the Lord helping us experiencing life through different eyes. “He continued, “Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of GOD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10, The Message)
The Joy of the Lord is your Strength!
Believe it! Experience it!
Grace and PEACE!
Gary
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And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NLT)
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Scriptures marked MSG have been taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.”
“Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.”