DEVO 03.08.23

DEVO. 03.08.23

"...Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT)

- Have you let circumstances steal your joy?

- Have you been fighting something...maybe for a long time?

- Are you worn down from struggling with the same problem for years.

- Have you been thinking that your situation cannot be fixed, or that there's no hope.

- Do you realize that God's purpose is for you to have true joy?

- The Lord wants you to have joy beyond or despite your circumstances.

- Jeremiah says, "Don't be dejected and sad."

- James 1:2 says, "When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."

- It's an opportunity for Great joy, not just a little bit of joy.

- The very next verse gives the reason, "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

- It's an opportunity to grow spiritually!

- The joy God wants to give you is not happiness.

- "Happiness" comes from the word "happen."

- So, if something good is happening then you are happy.

- But Great Joy can be experienced despite your circumstances.

- Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit and it is the easiest to lose.

- When you lose joy, it effects all of the other areas of your life.

- Do you notice that when you lose your joy you become critical and negative and you feel worn out and tired.

- Being critical is like virus - it can contaminate and spread to everyone around you.

- It can discourage and depress everyone you come in contact with.

- You become worn out because The joy of the Lord is your strength.

- Real joy come from His Spirit and from hearing and receiving His Word.

- His written Word and Rhema Word.

- His Word builds up, inspires and casts vision over your life.

- Take a moment this morning and find joy in the Lord.

- Let this word get into your spirit this morning.

- Get in His presence...get in His Word and simply receive.

- Receive the Joy which you so desperately need.

- Find your joy in him and with Him.

- Because you can't give out what you don't have.

- Have a great joy filled Wednesday!