Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 14, 2014
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22
Joy wins. Sorrow may reign in the short-term, but long-term joy is victorious. Sin may have delayed a blessing, but eventually joy wins with a shout of gratitude. Death brings grief, only to be swallowed into an everlasting environment where joy never ceases to win. The path of joy is not without pain, but the intensity of the hurt only increases the feelings of joy once the pain has passed. Joy wins for all who follow Jesus. Yes, Jesus brings joy to a life loved by Him!
Like our salvation in Christ, once joy lodges in the heart of a believer no one can steal it away. Satan tries to talk us into forgetting God’s faithfulness. Other people stuck in a joyless cycle may not receive joy’s glow from our face, joy’s encouragement from our lips or joy’s grace from our heart. Indeed in Christ, we have an infinite supply of joy to share, but in our flesh we can quickly lose our joy. So, be joyful in Jesus. When another’s misery invites your accompaniment, don’t RSVP!
“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.” (1 Chronicles 16:27).
What tempts you to lose your joy? Who threatens to take away your joy? If external conditions (people, places and things) are necessary to bring us joy, when they are removed our joy goes with them. However, if our joy comes from the internal rest of our soul in our Savior Jesus then our joy is secure, not at any real risk. Indeed, we romance our relationship with God only to realize a greater joy we never knew existed. A heart captured by Christ enjoys deep abiding joy!
Moreover, we find abiding joy by becoming who our heavenly Father made us to be. We lose our joy when we try to become who someone else wants us to be. But we are supernaturally joyful when we exercise our unique giftedness, energized by the Holy Spirit. Joy wins when our life aligns around Almighty God’s game plan. Trust the Lord and make time to think and be creative. Enjoy how the Lord has made you and joy will never cease. Be a joyful winner in Him!
“We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests” (Psalm 20:5).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that when I see You I see joy. My heart rejoices in Your calming presence.
Related Readings: Job 33:26; Psalm 86:4; Proverbs 10:28; Matthew 13:20-21; Acts 13:51-52
Additional Resource: Enjoy a friend’s story of joy from generosity: http://bit.ly/1nZ850A
Free eBook when you invite 5 friends to the free email devotional…https://www.wisdomhunters.com/invite-your-friends/
© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved. www.wisdomhunters.com
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When my brother in law committed suicide, it did not feel like joy could ever win out. It hurts so badly and it hurts even more to watch those left behind gasp for the air of understanding! Now, a year later, I have that heavenly hindsight as I am experiencing that God always restores joy, because joy is our strength. He is healing, He is restoring and JOY does return!
Dear Kmac4Him~
How right you are! God does restore joy ~ and heals us through that joy. Thank you for that reminder. I am sorry to hear about your brother-in-law and I hope that through this great loss, others came to know the our Great Comforter as they reached out for help. I am just sure your strong faith during that time was a mighty witness to many.
Once again, thank you for your response to “Joy Wins”. Don’t you find such peace in the line: “However, if our joy comes from the internal rest of our soul in our Savior Jesus then our joy is secure, not at any real risk”?
We look forward to hearing from you again in the future. Blessings to you and yours.
We are so very thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne