Category Archives: Joy
Joy & Peace
Gal. 5:22-23 “ But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
The joy that overflows, is a component of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I was reading the work of a renowned theologian Thomas Aquinas, and he said something very profound. He says, “God is happiness by His Essence: for He is happy not by acquisition or participation of something else, but by His Essence. On the other hand, men are happy by acquisition or participation.” Read the rest of this entry
Love & Joy
Gal. 5:22-23 “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit…” (TPT)
Love is the first component of the fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in our scripture reference. We looked at a part of it in yesterday’s devotional. Today we will pick up from where we stopped. 1 Cor. 13:8-9 “Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” Read the rest of this entry
The Old, The New
Col.1:16-17 “for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth… Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together”
Jesus holds all creation together! Everything is held together by Him including the demons, the angels, and the forces. If Jesus says, “Stop!”, everything stops. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we command every affliction in your life to stop. Read the rest of this entry
Permit
Rom.2:4 (GW) “Don’t you realize that it is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to Him and change the way you think and act?” (emphasis added).
We are totally grateful to God for all that He is doing and for unstoppable cheer. I have no doubt that being on this journey over the past few days, Read the rest of this entry
The Exchange II
Isa.61:3 (Voice) “…God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, To anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness…”
The good news for you and me today is that the Lord is bringing an exchange. God is exchanging our ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and giving us praise instead of despair. Read the rest of this entry
The Exchange I
Isa.61:3 (Voice) “…God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, To anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness…”
Let God transform you by changing you and changing the way you think. How does God use defeat to transform us? I am going to give you an equation and with this equation, Read the rest of this entry
Look Inside
Matt.2:10 “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” [with emphasis].
These men were rather wealthy and well advanced in age but as soon as they saw Jesus, they bowed and worshipped Him. The question to you as we celebrate Christmas is, what is keeping you from bowing to Jesus? Read the rest of this entry
Surplus
Matt.7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
God specializes in surplus and this is consistent with scriptures. Read the rest of this entry
Color Catcher
Matt.11:28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Shepherds are to sheep what the goatherd is to goats. Have you ever seen a goatherd? I saw one once when I was serving in Northern Nigeria. That day, we were evangelizing from village to village, Read the rest of this entry
Big Picture
Isa.43:10 “…There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior… 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” [with emphasis].
Have you tried playing chess with an eight-year-old? There was this eight-year-old girl that had won chess tournaments for her school. Read the rest of this entry
