A Cupful Of Joy
by Muriel Larson
**We would love to hear from you on our very active blog: http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/devotionalforwomen/ and click on “comments”.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Think about the professing Christians you know. There’s Jenna, always bubbling with joy and enthusiasm for the Lord. You may almost envy her for her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sometimes you may not be able to understand the joy she maintains—like the difficult time she went through when her mother was in the hospital, or the problems a feisty relative has been giving her. Why doesn’t she get angry, worried, or depressed, like most people would? How can she stand there in church with a joyful smile on her face while singing a praise song? If you ask her about it, she exclaims, “Oh, I’m looking up!”
You also notice that Jenna loves to talk about the Lord and speaks of Him as though He is with her all the time. You sense that she is truly trusting in her living Lord.
And then, of course, there’s Monica. Every time something goes wrong for her you can see it written all over her face and hear it in her complaints.
FROM DESPAIR TO JOY
When Jesus died on the cross, His disciples became the most sorrowful people in the world. But when they saw Christ after He rose from the grave, their hearts were filled with joy. When we realize He is alive and present in our lives, we know the joy Christ promised to His followers.
WHAT ROBS US OF JOY
*ANGER, BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT robs us of joy. How do we get rid of these hurtful feelings? By forgiving those who hurt us. See Ephesians 4:32.
*LACK OF FAITH robs us of joy. “God let me down; He allowed this to happen,” is a Satanic implant. Christians like Jenna reject such self-pity. Instead they claim Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Doing that restores joy.
*DISCOURAGEMENT robs us of joy. We start dwelling on our troubles instead of looking to the Lord. Joyful Christians trust that God will work all things for good in their lives.
*SIN robs us of joy-that means disobedience of any kind.
TRUE JOY
Do you long to know real joy? The Bible says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8-9).
Jesus Christ said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11).
If you really want that joy of the Lord, read John 14, 15, and 16 to find out what else Jesus said.
Our Lord is in the transforming business. If we turn our lives over to Him completely, He comes into them, cleans them up, and makes us into new persons. And as we walk with Him and grow in Him, He makes us more and more like Himself—loving, joyful, and caring.
Questions: It’s easy to talk about our having joy, but what if we’re living in a bad, depressing situation? I’m angry about all the bad things people have done to me. How can I have joy?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/muriel-larson/
Tags: anger, bitterness, dispair, joy, resentment
66 Responses to “A Cupful Of Joy”
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Welcome back, Chris T! :) We missed you!
Thank You, Lord, for Your favor in answering our prayers for Chris! Thank You for restoring her computer, and her connection to ChristianWomenToday, where she is ministered to, and shares the blessings that you have shown her! We praise You for Your everlasting compassion to Your children! Amen!
Thank you, dear sister Fran, for your loving prayers of comfort and healing for our grieving family! I treasure the prayers offered here, trusting our Lord to use them as He tenderly ministers to my sweet aunt and cousin! May their sense of loss be eased by the reassurance of being reunited someday in eternity!
Thanking you, Dear Lord, for answered prayers already here today..with Chris’ Praise Report!..and for those prayer requests above that you are already “listening” to.. and attending to …and will answer in your perfect timing..Please be with Marilyn and her family as they journey through this hour of earthen parting and goodbyes ..and give them “Joy in the morning” as they travel through to the other side of it..Psalm 30:5..Praising you, Dear Jesus, this day..that no matter what earthen bombardment, Your Joy truly is our Strength..Thank you for powerful Nehemiah 8:10…and we are never alone Hebrews 13:5…Teach us to keep our eyes fastened on you and to stand on your Promise of Peace as we do Isaiah 26:3 as we journey through each challenge and make our lives a testimony of encouragement to others ..We Praise You.. that YOU will be with each precious one requesting prayers above..We love you, Father, and are so very, very blessed by your Presence and Hope in our lives each day… In Jesus Holy Name…Amen and Amen.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THIS BLOG FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. I HAVE BEEN OFFLINE MOST OF THE WEEK BECAUSE MY COMPUTER WENT NUTS ON ME AND HAD TO GET IT UPGRADED(THANKS TO MY FRIEND PAT) NOW I DON’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH BELL CANADA AND PAY THEIR PRICE F0R A COMPUTER THAT WILL BE OUT DATED IN 6 MONTHS. I THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR THE PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS FROM YOU ALL AND FOR FRIENDS LIKE PAT, AS WELL AS EVERYONE ON THIS BLOG.
LOVE TO ALL
CHRIS T.
Thank you God for answering our prayers for Chris’s computer!!!!!
Praise The Lord! Pat was able to fix Chris’s computer it is up & running God Is So Good! Marilyn thank you for your prayers for Chris, & for Terry. God Bless you! Hugs Linda!
Good morning Lord, thank You for another day to lift up Your Name on high and praise You! You are our All-in-All, our Rock and our Redeemer! How precious it is to celebrate Your victory over death, knowing that You paid our ransom and rescued us from eternal condemnation! Such knowledge is too wonderful for us! Today, Lord, we lift up dear Linda’s husband, Terry, to You, asking for Your divine intervention in his upcoming appointment with his specialist. We ask that You fully restore Terry’s health that he may be found eligible to return to work as he desires. Thank You, Lord, that You attended Linda and Terry during their bouts with flu this past winter, sustaining them through their rough, extended illness! We pray for Donna L’s husband, Steve, as he prepares to return to work — please, Lord, give him quiet confidence and Your peace as he interviews for this new position. Guide him, we pray, through the interview process, that his answers would be pleasing to his prospective employer. And, Lord, we lift up our dear sister, Chris, to You for Your healing mercies and computer needs. We ask that You intercede for her, Lord, getting her the medical care that she needs. Give her wisdom, Lord, to recognize when her symptoms merit medical evaluation, as well as the courage to seek the help that would benefit her. Bring caring Christians into her world, Jesus, that would assist her in these things. And, Lord, please give her friend, Pat, the knowledge needed to fix her computer, such that Chris may be reunited with her sisters here, who love her and miss her! And, if this is not to be, Lord, please give the personnel at Bell compassion and sensitivity towards Chris in her unfortunate circumstances. May their hearts be touched, and, therefore, waive her contract responsibilities. All these things we pray, in Your most glorious, Holy name, Jesus, Amen!
Thank you Sharon for your prayers for Terry. As far as Chris goes she had her computer taken in to get fixed and it was going to cost some outrageous price. So this afternoon her friend Pat is coming over to see if he can fix it. Also she has a contract with Bell regarding the computer & if it can’t be fixed she is asking us that we pray that they would let her out of the contract due to the fact that the computer is not working. She is also having a lot of problems with her legs retaining fluids even though she takes a diuretic. So she asked me if you all wouldn’t mind to keep her in your prays. Also she said to say Hi, and she loves, misses everyone and the devotional Will be back as soon as possible. Thanks ladies for caring. Hugs Linda!
linda r i will be praying for terry
sharon b
donna
i will be praying for steve. also does anyone know anything about chris. i am still praying about her computer problems as i know it is her only link to the out side worlds
sharon b
Hi Donna, I am glad you are enjoying your job I will continue to pray for you that you will find it easy to learn all the new things. I know that I sure would find it hard as I too haven’t worked for about 30 yrs myself. Terry and I are doing good & enjoying are two small grandsons. We are praying that when he sees the specialist on Wed. that he will be able to finally go back to work the following week. Thank you for all your prayers for him regarding his shoulder and both of us when we had the flu. God Bless!
Love From Canada, Linda
Hi Linda,
Thanks dear friend, I know he will appreciate it. My new job is going really well. Still have lots to learn but I am really enjoying it. I hope all is well with you and Terry. Love from here, Donna
Donna I will most definitely be praying for him. I trust you are enjoying your new job too. Hugs Linda!
Dear Patti,
I am so glad that you decided to comment today. You are so very dear to us and what you write is so uplifting. Please keep praising the Lord here….put on your armour and stand firm, we all need to hear from you.
Dear Sisters, please pray for Steve as he has an interview tomorrow. (He has been jobless for over a year now). He has done a great job preparing himself for the interview, so now we surrender this to the Lord. We are in a place right now of surrender and waiting. We know that the Lord has this in His control and whatever the outcome we know it will be for good as God only wants to give us good things.
Thank you dear sisters. In His love, Donna
I have been reading off and on, the comments on this devotional. This is such a good one, Dr. Muriel and it truly spoke to my heart.
I have almost written several times today, but truthfully was a bit afraid to do so. It seems that when I have written on the blog…praising God ….expressing joy, that it is always followed by an attack by satan.
Yesterday and today ….I sense that I have begun to know the joy that so many of you speak and I fear another attack. The joy that is there when things aren’t so good…..when facing uncertainty or sadness…grief….just the things in life we all face.
I am becoming more aware every day that everyone has a story. I have been realizing recently that the things I have faced in my life seem nothing compared to the chronic pain and the losses so many of you have faced and face every day. Even so, you minister and have a joy and peace that is so apparent in your lives.
Cz….I understand the loss you are experiencing with your friend. Even so, I believe this kind of friendship is rare and would encourage you to pray …..and with the Lord’s leading, continue to reach out to her and reconcile your differences. The love of a friend is such a gift…..something I will always treasure. Know you are in my prayers.
Loreli, I remember the day you first wrote on this blog and always look forward to your writing. Several of you are new to me and how we all welcome you. As I have said before, this is a place that I have found acceptance, unconditional love and a place where I feel safe in sharing my heart.
I have learned so much from you ladies and because of your ministering thru your writing, I am at a different place spiritually today. I’m so thankful for this devotional blog and for each and every one of you.
Cz, you must have been writing the same time I was writing and I just now have come back to the blog. I just wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you as I know exactly how you are feeling. I had the very same thing happen to me 6yrs ago with the very best friend I have ever had in my whole life & it just broke my heart but I had to just pray & give it to God. I have not heard or seen her in over four years and two weeks ago I was in church and she came up to me and gave me a hug and sat with me through the whole service. We talked after about our grown children etc and I asked her if she was ever free that I would love to get together for a coffee sometime & she said she would. I am just so thankful that I kept praying for her & asking God to not allow me to become bitter & I would read things like how certain people are brought into our life for a season. So I just want to encourage you too, to pray for her and don’t let bitterness come between you. I will keep you in my prayers. Margaret I will also keep you in my prayers that your legs will continue to get better and stronger each day! Marcie I will also be praying for you that you will feel Gods presence with you continually and always remember “That Great Is He That Is Within You, Than he That Is In The World” Hugs Linda!
Sweet, faithful sisters Linda, Donna L. Loreli, Jerseygirl, and Sharon B — thank you all for your kind offers of prayers for our family — you are such a blessing in this time of sorrow! My dear aunt and uncle were soul-mates, and their love story was so beautiful, truly a reflection of Jesus and His Church! I am thankful for the days that God gave them together, and for their spiritual inheritance. May the Lord use your prayers to bring comfort and healing to our broken hearts, and give strength to my precious aunt and cousin for the days ahead!
Marcie, It is Satan’s intention to drag you down. You must be doing something right for him to even be bothering you. Seek God, Get alone and call out his name. Ask him for his presence to be with you. Ask for stregnth for your journey, daily seek his presence. Fall in love even more with the King of Kings, our Savior, precious one, Father, Mighty Warrior, Soon coming King, Jesus. He if fighting for you. Remember it’s the emeny’s job to bother us, it’s our job to fight and stand on the word of God. Until the end he will not leave you alone, But WE WIN IN THE END. GOD IS VICTORIOUS.HE IS HOLY.PRAISE HIS NAME, WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR.HALLELUJAH
Marcie,
I was encouraged by your comment. We all go through difficult situations and the devil is just waiting for us to be discouraged. Wanting to steal our joy and bringing us down. Praise the Lord that He is there giving us what we need (this devotional) during these times. He is also there for us in His word, through Christian brothers and sisters and prayer. I pray that we all will remember your closing comment. “the joy of the Lord is available in all circumstances”.
Love to you all from far away….Donna
Thanks Sharon, It means a lot to hear people here are praying for me. For now I am doing well with my legs. Continue to pray that my legs will do better!
For the past few days I have allowed the devil to drag me down, because of some difficult family issues. Praise God for your devotional, which has brought to my mind that the joy of the Lord is available in all circumstances. Praise his name.
Sorry I meant to say Hi Donna and I am praying now for Sharon and Margret’s legs. Isn’t it good to know that God doesn’t get us mixed up.
Hi Donna L, Margret I will be praying for yours and Donnas legs. Have you checked with a doctor that specializes in nerve spasms concerning muscles? I will be praying for you both. Love to all
margARET
i have the same problem with my legs and back. what they found out about me is i have a cist in my spine and it presses on a nerve and that is what makes my leg go out. they want me to have surgery on my back but i am not sure about it. i use a cane when we go some where so i won’t fall. i know when the time i\s right God will let me know. i will be praying for you and the pain you are in and that someone will be able to figure out what is wrong
sharon b
Dr. Muriel,
Wonderful devotional today. Words to build us up in Christ. Thank you.
Marilyn and Barbara, More words to build us up in Christ. Your wisdom is truly a gift from God to us all. Praying for your family Marilyn.
All the comments today are so encouraging and we have so many opportunities to pray for one another. Praying for you jerseygirl and loreli..
LindaR, my dear friend thank you once again for your prayers for Steve.
In His Love, Donna
A couple of weeks ago I was down and discouraged about my legs sitting me giving out on the floor. I have had this condition for 9 years and no one can put their finger on it. It has been pretty scary and debilitatin to say the least. Through it all the Lord has given me a good attitude. It is embarrassing to be walking and than to have to hold on the wall or someone come and resuce you and help you to the car or where you are going. You have to have a pretty good sense of humor when everything looks bleak! I know God’s people have been praying for me. I had a message on one of the blogs, The Lord has not forgotten you and The Lord loves you! Tears came to my ears and a quiet presence came over me. Last week I had prayer for my legs and I have had freedom in walking! I havne’t moved that fast in quite a while. I can go out without being afraid and I can move freely! I am thanking the Lord for his joy! even when my legs were spastic! and now for the relief of pain and the sitting on the floor! The verse the Joy of the Lord is my strength has been resighted out loud as I go about living for the Lord!
I would just like to say that I so agree with Marilyn that our Joy is a spiritual state which is unrelated to our personal circumstances and that yes it is possible to have joy in the midst of sorrow and suffering. Marilyn is a perfect example of that, as early this morning her uncle passed away so she is facing sorrow with his loss and yet when I talked to her on the phone you can hear the Joy in her voice or when you read what she writes you can hear her Joy of the Lord in her words. Also there would be an awful lot of pretty pathetic looking Christians around if we couldn’t have the Joy of the Lord in the midst of sorrow & suffering because how many Christians do you know or are you one of them who suffers everyday from chronic pain but you still have the joy of the Lord within you and PTL for that!!! God is so Good as He Never,Never Leaves Us & He is our strength & our joy!
Jerseygirl I will put you and your husband on my prayer list so I remember to pray for you everyday. Anna I would love to be a internet partner with you too. If you would like to email back and forth my address is lrohne@shaw.ca I will leave that up to you. Loreli I know it is late in the day especially with the time difference as I have a feeling you live in the east and I live as far west as you can go so I am probably to late to help or even pray for strength for you, but how about a cup of coffee together??? Seriously I will pray for strength anyways as I am sure as a working mom you can always use extra. Marilyn as always you too are in my prayers. God Bless each & everyone of you precious ladies. Hugs Linda!!!
What a wonderful blog, and what uplifting comments from everyone! I stumbled….no, God put this blog, the wisdom in it, and each of you in my path today. I will pray for you, for each of your needs, and thank you for the wisdom I’ve found as I read each entry.
I’ve been struggling with a close friend lately. I’m a strong Christian, have a wonderful family and husband, but I’ve been trying to work through some ‘happiness’ issues between myself and a close Christian friend. Turmoil, hurt feelings, miscommunications, pride, competition and just plain selfishness, have left a once close friendship in destruction.
From your comments, I’m reminded to keep my focus on God and the joy that my faith in Him and His promises bring. I know that even if this relationship proves to be just a passing long season in our lives, I can take the good from it, and move on with the joy that comes from God and his word. I will pray for the same for my friend.
The scripture reminders, and support that I found as I read each entry in today’s blog has empowered me, to speak my heart, do the right thing, and let God take care of the rest.
We’re all riddled with problems each day. God gives us challenges so that He can polish us into the vessels He wants us to be, in order for us to serve Him, and bring glory to his kingdom.
Thank you ladies. You have given me light for the way, and reminded me of what I’ve been failing to focus upon.
Blessings to all of you.
Jerseygirl, good message.
marilyn
my prayers are with you at this time may God bless your family during your time of sorrow
sharon b
Dear Sisters in Christ,
I have found that the only way to enjoy the JOY of the LORD is to let go of all the inner turmoil that is brewing within. There is no room for LIGHT and DARKNESS to exist within any of us whom are followers of Christ. Should such occur, then one will end up living within a battle zone that is not pleasantful.
Sin has always robbed me of the JOY of The LORD and as I continually face up to the wrongful things in my life then such JOY so quickly returns.
I have found that when I am up front and honest with GOD and those around me then and only then do I remain stable. Trying to hide anything within is not a good thing and the sooner that one is able to bring such problems out and into the LIght then the darkness of such deminishes and no longer has a hold on us. Satan would love to see us remain in turmoil, depression, ect. etc. etc. for he knows that when we are caught up in such it hinders us from being the living decipales that we all are to be.
My pray to all of us today is that we all experience the ture JOY of the Lord so that we will be able to detect when such is not fully present.
Amen,
Thank you dear ladies for sharing your joy and your trials. Marilyn, I will lift your family up in prayer as you go through the grieving process for your dear Uncle. And thank you for your suggestion. Our deacon has advised us to first get our finances in order and have been working with financial advisor. I have been thinking that I do need some counseling, and I am going to start looking for a good Christian counselor. I am doing laundry as well. Now that my boys are in their teens and young men, I am teaching them to be independent by having them do their own laundry. It doesn’t always work, but it does help me out. I also use a cleaning service. Because I live with 4 men, I was finding it challenging to be “joyful”, doing much of the cleaning even though they help where they can. This helps all of us be more “joyful”. With our financial situation, I often am thinking that I should cancel this service, but I really need it for peace of mind.
Thank you again all you ladies for sharing your faith and for being here for one another. Have a blessed day
Thanks so much Muriel for your great devotion.
Although I am very expressive and in the correction of things around me (so I believe, ha ha ha) I am not complaining but commenting on facts that might set others free from pressure imposed by others. You might say, “Who are you Romel to make comments on things to release pressure on others? We have GOD to do that.” Yes, we do and didn’t Paul make many comments, correction and advise so that we will not take advantage or abuse others in the name of Christianity? It says do not defraud your brothers. That’s what I would like to say. I am not bitter or anything but a good advise is a medicine to our ailing Christianity. Yesterday, I met a senior who has money, but do not drive and do not take the bus. She said she is diabetic but she looks good. She waits on her Christian friends to drive her around, go shopping with her or invite her to a function and give her a ride. We have so many Seniors home in our city that provide all the services the seniors need and not become dependent to family and friends. I do not want to impose or depend on my friends and families and so I’m going to this one of the seniors facilities. Nevertheless, I would like to offer help to those who really need it. Some people asked me why I’m bubbly and giggly. Because, I’m happy. GOD has all my problems, so why should I worry? Why should I lack sleep worrying when GOD never sleep carrying all my worries?
I help others and get unspeakable joy out of it, prayed for others and get joy out of it speacially when your prayers joined with others and prayers were answered, joined in a study or discussion like this that we have now in the devotional and get great joy because of the introduced issues or topics and you hear great comments of sisters/brothers in the LORD and I’m being uplifted, encouraged, vendicated and grew and instructed or corrected from preconceived ideas. I like that.. It’s amazing! So yes, I praise GOD for joy, unspeakable joy, full of glory, makes me laugh, makes me dance, makes me shout, makes me jump because of HIS joy in me, the joy of HIS salvation from all the attacks of the enemy, from the penalty of sin and for HIS power in me because greater is HE that is inside me than he that is in the world.
PTL!!
Thankyou Marilyn, Bless your heart for offering to help. I could send it UPS! Ha Ha
And, Loreli, I also wanted to tell you how beautiful your testimony is to God’s faithfulness and goodness to us! The peace and joy that you experienced in the midst of your great trial points to Him! Thank you for sharing it, as it is a great faith-builder!
Loreli, I sure wish I lived near you, as I would gladly offer to help you with the laundry! Oddly, I don’t mind doing laundry, and I actually enjoy washing dishes!! :/ (Is there a counselor in the house?!! ;) As for the rest of the housework, we would have to get Snow White to call all her animal friends to help us out! :D
Hi Jerseygirl! Please don’t feel bad that you’ve shared some difficult burdens that you’ve faced, and that you’ve struggled with experiencing joy during these trials — that is often the reality of our lives! But, I want to reassure you that there is joy to be found, even in the very midst of our struggles, when we run to the very arms of Jesus for consoling and comforting! As we seek His guidance through the murky waters of our lives, asking for His wisdom, He is faithful to provide! You can trust Him to answer your needs according to His riches in glory, and in His time. I would encourage you to ‘speak the truth in love’ to your husband regarding your finances, perhaps he would be willing to get some Christian marriage counseling with you. The resentment you feel, while justified, will rob you of joy — just as Muriel said above. In fact, justifiable resentment is very difficult to release to God! That truly is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives! Bathe this in prayer, my friend, and know that God sees your circumstances and hears your heart!
Girls, I need help. I am so tired from working twelve hour days on cases. I’ve got to clean my house while my family is away at a youth conference. I hate this job but it has to be done. please pray for my energy and stregnth to hold up as I tackle this. Ya know, If I can’t get victory over a loads of laundry then I probably need help, right. The Joy of the Lord is my Stregnth, The Joy of doing laundry stinks!
Marilyn, God’s love covers us daily. I pray in Jesus name that your family members are bathed in the peace and presence of God today and that is lovingkindness will comfort their hearts. He promises he will walk with us. Blessings, Loreli
Joy come from within, but only if you have God inside. I am a bubbly person and people do ask me how I am always that way. I know that I have God on my side!
Thanks for the devotion.
Hi Ann, I guess I was writing the same time you were and didn’t see your comment until now. Of course I will be glad to be your internet partner. Many of the girls here will help you, They’re a neat bunch of people. You are blessed and Praise God that you have awakened to te truth of God’s word. He is faithful Ann and so desperate to abide with you. He longs to hear your voice. Worship him and tell him how much you love him, even at home sing praises to him. Read this devotional when you can, it’s very uplifting.
Good morning ladies ! Great devotional and I think as christians it is so important for people to see the joy of the lord in us. It is sometimes difficult but like the song says “the joy of the lord is my strength” I lived the past few years of my life angry,bitter and sad. Nothing or nobody will ever take my joy away again ! Thanks so much for the great devotionals and comments I really look up to all you wise and wonderful ladies.
I’ve always had a wonderful joy in me. Last year I had worked with a runaway teen and she asked me why I was so happy all the time, I shared Christ with her and she accepted the Lord. On the way home a driver pulled out in front of my car that was going down the interstate at 55 MPH. While in intensive care I lost my joy even though for the past five days in the hospital I had retained it even through surgery. I was on a vent and that may have done something, I don’t know, I was fighting to breathe. I could not feel God, I could not worship, nothing, I had no energy, it was taking everything I had just to breathe with the vent over my face. Then God spoke to my heart and said “Speak the name of Jesus”. I’m not lying when I tell you that it was hard to even whisper but I spoke “Jesus” and the most overwhelming presence of God filled my ICU room, he was there, not only was he there he was holding me…….What Joy….What Peace and I finally was able to cry and let go of the fact that I was mad, I prayed,,But God I had just shared and someone came into the kingdom why did you let this happen….and I tell you the truth…..as real as it could be….the Holy Spirit let my heart fill up with the truth, he stated.. I didn’t let this happen, The enemy came to destroy your life and it was I that saved you. It has been a year now and just writing this still brings so much peace to my spirit…He was there….the whole time….and he was protecting me…and he still is. Hi to everyone..been missing everyone’s comments.
I have been a Christian since 1994, but only recently came to understand the freedom in christ and it is all about him and none about me, I can do nothing but trust him for my Salvation so all I do is a result of him saving me. I cannot believe it took me so long to see that truth. I belong to a lovely little church but lately I have felt I need an accountability partner and everyone seems paired off at my church is there a chance I could find an internet partner. I am a 60 year old Christian women who beat throat cancer last year.
Dear sisters-in-Christ, I would like to ask for prayer for my precious aunt and cousin, as this morning the Lord took my dear 80-year-old uncle home. Theirs was a beautiful, loving Christian home, and his absence will be deeply felt. While my uncle’s siblings all passed away in their 50′s-60′s from heart disease, and he, too, battled heart disease over the past 15-20 years, God showered him with grace, allowing him to care for my ailing aunt, who had polio as a child, and has faced many challenges and difficulties because of it. Their only child, a daughter, lost her husband 2 years ago (he was 40 years-old), leaving her a widow with a 6-year-old son. Please pray for God’s tender care during these days ahead, for traveling mercies for family members, and for His Holy Spirit to ease their sorrow with His presence. Thank you so very much, dear friends!
Hello all. Your comments are very inspiring. It really helps me to be aware of the difference with your replies on what happiness is and what joy is. It is hard to be joyful in difficult situations. I recently found out that my husband was cheating on me, not with another women, but with our finances. We were working with a Christian ministry to pay off our credit card debt in a timely manner. What my spouse wasn’t telling anyone was that for the past several years, had run up our home equity to over 5 times what our credit card debt was. He is a good husband, but he has done things like this before with finances so it is hard to be forgiving or joyful. We are managing to pay everything but that is all we can do. That makes me resentful because with both of us working in good jobs, we should be able to do more than just use every cent to pay he bills. When I read of your difficult situations it is amazing to me that you can be calm and joyful. I try to be forgiving, I lift the situation up to God. Many times I can be joyful. But in the background I have moments of panic and the feeling of being totally overwhelmed. Please pray for my husband, my family and situation. Perhaps this is too big for me.
After the beautiful commens I read yesterday about faith and the ones about Joy, I feel bad about posting negative comments so please forgive me.
I believe that ‘happiness’ is an emotion that is circumstances-related; i.e. when our situations are favorable and conflicts are few. But, ‘joy’ is a spiritual state, which is unrelated to our personal cirsumstances. It is entirely possible to have joy in the midst of sorrow and suffering, as it is Spirit-driven and transcends our earth-bound experiences. And, I believe that joy is directly linked to our ‘abiding’ in Christ. Being with Him, seeking Him in all things, treasuring His love and mercy, worshipping Him with our words and our deeds. Not perfect people, not sinless people, but forgiven and grateful. Awareness of His grace is the beginning of our joy, for we come to realize how unworthy we are, and how merciful He is! Thank you, Muriel, for this beautiful reminder of how our outlook can betray our faith and joy!
Me again, forgot to check to receive today’s comments.
Have a great day all!
Just sent out a note on yesterday’s blog that refers to
James 4 and here it is again. Maybe God wants us to read James 4?
Often hear people quote Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” but was quite surprised one day to realize that it begins with “Do not grieve.”
This is not the same grieving as in James 4 or Matthew 5:4, which I believe refer to grieving and repenting of the sin in our lives.
The context here suggests that this grieving that we are not to do is focusing on the negatives in our lives and the things of the past which block God’s joy in the present.
As joy is a fruit of the Spirit it is available to all of us, and something that I include in my prayer as I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and manifest Himself through me.
Have attached an excerpt from a sermon our Pastor gave some time ago.
“Happiness is the fullness of emotion that rises from an awareness of physical and material blessings. Joy is the fullness of emotion that comes from spiritual and non-material blessings. Both are good; God created emotions.”
I want to thank you all for this devotional every day. It always touches my heart, and they help me grow closer to my Heavenly Father. God has been so good to me, and I came through cancer in 1985. God was with me every minute and people could not believe how I loved and praised God for HIS blessings.
Thank you for all your time in sending all these wonderful devotions to me. May God Bless you all.
Alice Breau
Nova Scotia,Canada