I have a wonderful app on my Iphone that lets me choose different Bible study subjects that include a devotional and Bible verses that relate to the subject. It reminds me at 10:00 each morning to read my Bible so not only am I working my way through the whole Bible in a year but I get devotionals as well. I love it! So, the 31 day study I'm doing right now is about Joy. Finding joy, recognizing joy, where joy comes from, etc. Today's lesson was so meaningful that I just had to share it, so here it is:
The joy of the Lord really is your strength and the devil knows that if he can rob you of your strength, that he will turn you into a weak, whining and ineffective Christian.
Did you know that the devil is not after your health? Did you realize that Satan couldn't care less about your marriage or your finances? And your children don't mean a thing to him. What the devil is after is your joy and the way that he tries to steal your joy is by going after your health, your marriage, your finances and your children.
The devil knows that he cannot deny you of your salvation or of the forgiveness that Jesus has given to you. So, what he tries to steal is the most valuable commodity that he is able to get his greedy little hands on. Satan is relentless and he will do everything he can to lie to you and eventually deceive you out of your joy.
Today, let me challenge you to stand toe to toe...nose to nose with the accuser of the brethren and declare in his ugly little face, "Satan...you can not!!! You will not!!! You will never be able to take my joy from me!"
When you choose to defy the enemy with the joy that Jesus died to give you, you will become a powerful force in the world today. God can use joyful Christians who are bold enough to hang onto their joy no matter what is going on in their circumstances.
Nehemiah 8:9-12
John 10:1-10
What a wonderful reminder! The JOY of the LORD is MY STRENGTH! Jesus died no only for my forgiveness but that I could be reunited with God and what could be more joyful than that? I can't think of a single thing. So no matter what is going on in my life I will cling to the joy of the Lord!
This is so very true. Thanks for sharing this lesson and encouragement. Lord, help us to be thankful even in the midst of learning lessons and growing pains.
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