Absorbing God’s Word
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Applying God’s Word
Finding true joy and having it last is entirely up to us. It took me forty years to realize that lasting joy does not come from the things of the world. Real joy came to me through my friendship with Jesus.
I admit to not experiencing this incredible joy around the clock. Unfortunately, I/we fight against the same enemy that Jesus faced. We minister to the broken, lost, suffering and unloved while dealing with our own struggles. The enemy’s job is to rob us of that joy and destroy all hope that Jesus is Lord.
I have prayed with a few different friends this week who are really suffering. It’s hard on me and yet God’s joy empowers me with the compassion needed for each situation.
Accounting of God’s Word
Am I only joy-filled when everything is going right? Have I ever experienced the joy of the Lord in others? Do others experience that joy in me?