The Source of Joy

I have learned that every single time I place my peace of mind and contentment on anyone or anything in this world, I am sorely disappointed. The only true source of genuine contentment and joy comes from God. Only in Him can I rejoice in my afflictions. Only in Him can I be satisfied with who I am and what I have in this life. If my joy and satisfaction does not come from Him then it is only a temporary fix that will let me down in due time. God never fails. He never gives up. He never runs out on me. His love is pure and unconditional and never changes…Only God’s love is what I need. It is enough and I need to realize that every time I look elsewhere to find joy and peace. His love is everlasting.

Here is a Facebook status that Kay Arthur posted today right after I wrote this:

‘“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

If God’s grace is sufficient to save us, surely it is sufficient to keep us and strengthen us in our times of suffering. God permits us to become weak so that we might receive His strength.Often as believers, we get many of our blessings through transformation, not substitution. When Paul prayed for the removal of his pain, he was asking God for a substitution: “Give me health instead of sickness, deliverance instead of pain and weakness.” Sometimes God does meet the need by substitution; but other times He meets the need by transformation. He does not remove the suffering, but He gives us His grace so that the suffering strengthens us and does not destroy us.Paul prayed about his problem and God gave him a deeper insight into what He was doing. Paul learned that his thorn in the flesh was a gift from God. What a strange gift! There was only one thing for Paul to do: accept the gift from God and allow God to accomplish His purposes. Has God given you a gift such as this? If so, what are you going to do with it?”

Obamaprayer

Father, today I lift up our president to you. Lord, I pray that you will shine your light into the darkness and expose the lies and reveal YOUR truth. I pray for him to have wisdom from YOU to run this country according to YOUR will for YOUR glory. I pray You would protect him from the enemy. I pray that you would lead him not into temptation but deliver him from the evil one. I pray that he will fall on his face humbled before you in total surrender and that he would repent for our nation and You would heal our land. This is possible because all things are possible with You. You are the one and ONLY SOVEREIGN ALMIGHTY GOD! Let Your name be lifted high. I pray that YOU would lead this country through our president. I pray that we will see such a change in him that we cannot deny Your work. I pray that You, Lord…will blow the minds of all who have supported him…and all who have not. Then people will say, “All that I can say is it’s God”…to YOU be the glory and You alone…forever and ever. In Jesus name, Amen

Focus

I posted this on a Facebook page today and thought it blog worthy….

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I have discovered that it is easy to focus on the pain and suffering in our lives and the lives of others. I have found myself quite overwhelmed by the prayer requests I am inundated with daily via social media, volunteering, phone, family, friends, Bible studies, Sunday school and church. Prayer request after prayer request after prayer request. So many are suffering. So many are burdened. If I am not careful to stay focused, I can begin feeling hopeless and helpless. Many Christians are feeling defeated or overwhelmed (like me) more than they are living in the victory that we have been given through Christ. Believe me, I am preaching to the choir here (meaning myself, not the choir at church). This has been an awakening in my life and I hope it will be in yours too.

While it is important to present our requests to God and to others…we must be careful that our focus doesn’t become more on what we want/need than what we have and what God wants and knows that we need.

When we focus on God’s desires for us, it helps us to get through the hard times with more strength. When we focus on the things mentioned in the above scripture, we experience victory over the defeat the enemy tries to overwhelm us with.

Perhaps when we pray (talking at myself again), we should pray with thanksgiving in our hearts? Perhaps we should praise God for the victories we have experienced prior to presenting our requests? Maybe we could even present our requests in a positive way…by presenting them in the form of thanks and faith…(Thank you, for the healing you are doing in my body today. Thank you for taking control of this situation, etc…) This way we start with strength and hope when we ask for prayer and help. This way, God is glorified and our focus remains on His power and not our weakness.

Remember, no matter how big the mountain is, God is far greater! It is nothing but a mole hill for Him. He created the mountain! Remember Romans 8:28. God works everything for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

In all things we must give thanks and praise Him for He is good. He will be glorified in all situations and when He is glorified, this is good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. His love endures forever. Amen.