Warriors Arise: December 14, 2022
Colossians 1:9-11 (NKJV) For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
James 1:2-3 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Isn't joy strange? Defined it means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. As a verb it means rejoice. When I have to suffer long, I am generally not feeling joy. When it seems my cross to bear is before me and I have to endure it rather than have it removed, I struggle to have joy. When various trials come my way, I am not in the mindset to count it all joy. This makes me wonder if joy is really something we have as a human being or it is something we receive from God.
Psalms 16:11 (NKJV)
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
I do not believe joy is something we can have outside of God. Not the kind of joy mentioned in the above verses. I believe it has to come through being in the presence of God. When we are in the presence of God then we have fullness of joy. When we have fullness of joy then we can suffer long, bear and endure the cross we are to carry, and count the various trials as joyful. Naturally, on our own, I do not believe we can attain the joy expressed in the Bible, however, we can receive it when we receive Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit gives us joy. Paul talks about joy being a fruit of Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22&23). So, when we receive Holy Spirit and fellowship in the presence of God, the fruit of joy is produced in our lives. I guess it isn't so strange. It is God's way of blessing those who will seek after him, dwell with Him, and walk the path He has before them. He will pour out His Spirit upon each one. He will develop in us the fullness of joy. In all situations and circumstances, we can operate in joy. That seems too good to be true, but it is true for those who ask God for the joy of the Spirit. It is true for those who seek God and find His presence. It is true for those who will keep knocking until He opens the door.
I have to position myself before God and earnestly ask Him for joy. I do not operate in the fullness of God's joy, but I earnestly desire to. I want to count the various trials as joy. I want to bear my cross with an overflow of joy. I want to have joy sweat from my pores when I am suffering long. I want the fullness of God's joy in my life. Therefore, I will position myself in His presence and receive the fullness of His joy.
Father, I am weak. Everyone has trials; but I want to be one who understands and operates in the joy of Holy Spirit. Everyone has a cross to bear. I want to be one to sees beyond the cross and delights in what will be accomplished with Your joy. When the suffering goes on and on, getting longer and longer, heavier and heavier everyday, I want to push through it with the fullness of Your joy. I ask to have the fullness of Your joy. I will seek You and find You. I will sit in Your presence and listen to You. I will follow Your instruction and walk according to Your ways for I will receive the joy of the Lord. I will knock and keep on knocking until I am let into your presence to receive the joy of the Lord in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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