The Joy Of The Lord

It is the Lord that brings great joy to my life. I am strengthened every day that I follow Jesus. ¹“The Lord is my strength and my shield”. I have never been so happy than I am now. I can’t help but smile. With the Lord in my life, I am happier than I could ever imagine. I never knew the kind of love Jesus had to offer until I came to Him. Once I got a taste of His great love, that’s all it took. I knew that what God had to offer was much greater than anything I had ever experienced in life. My greatest passions in life didn’t even hold up to what the Lord had to offer me. My heart was for the wrong things for so long in my life. I was on the wrong path and couldn’t find my way. Deep down, I knew there was something better but didn’t know where to find it. I had felt pleasure from things but then pain and guilt always came with it. What I thought was good, always had some sort of consequence. No matter what I tried, I could not make the right choices on my own. I needed something greater to pull me in the right direction. It was Jesus, the whole time, that could help me, but I was looking in all the wrong places. I was so caught up with what pleased the lusts of the flesh and didn’t take into account anything else. Once I finally looked past myself and confessed my sins to God, everything changed. The day I looked for Jesus to deliver me from sin, I finally had a way out. I was no longer living this life on my own, for the Lord was with me. ³After I repented and asked God to shelter me from temptation, I began to fight against sin and even win the battles. The Lord became my shield. I was helpless before, but now I am victorious in Christ the Lord. All praise the Lord for He gives us victory.

Jesus has done such great things in my life. ²Because of this, I know He can do even greater things for each of you. If any of you have fallen into addiction, God can bear your burdens. He can free you from bondage. You may not be able to stop smoking, drinking, using drugs or looking at pornography but the Lord can do all things. He can tear any sin from our lives if we trust in Him. Your shoulders may be heavy now, but the Lord can make them light. Believe in Jesus, and He will do a mighty work inside of you. The day you commit to follow Him will be the best day of your life. This shows humbleness of heart. ⁴The proud will not be led by God but the humble can be taught. Those that are submissive to the Lord are also selfless. Instead of being selfish to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, we desire to love one another. Showing kindness towards those in need is what brings us the greatest joy of all. Tonight, I was with a friend of mine, Adam, when we met this gentlemen, who is struggling with addiction. As we were sharing the gospel message of the cross, he looked at Adam and asked why he was laughing. I then looked at him and only saw a smile. Though this man kept pointing him out as laughing, it was only happiness and joy. Because this man was living in darkness, He could not see the love of God in his heart. We can’t keep this love to ourselves. His love shines from us into the lives of others. Some may see this as laughing but those in the Lord, know it is much more than that. We are smiling because of the passion we have for Jesus. His great love has changed us and it is amazing to share it with others.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, You bring me such great joy. I can feel Your great love for me and it leaves me in awe. I love to be in Your presence. To commune with You, God, is glorious. When You are with me, I am stronger. You bring strength to my life. Though I was weak, You came in and filled me up with love. You have given me a second chance at life and I am grateful. I am thankful that You loved me enough as to restore me into Your fold. I can see the green pastures, for You are my Shepherd. You continue to lead and guide me. There is nothing You would not do to help me. I trust in You. I will walk in Your ways, all my days. For You are greater than what this world offers. I desire to be in Your light. Shine bright, Oh Lord. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

¹Psalm 28:6-9 (KJV)
6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

²John 14:11-14 (KJV)
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

³Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

⁴James 4:1-10 (KJV)
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Artist: Rend Collective
Album: As Family We Go (2015)
Song: Joy Of The Lord