Don't Let The Devil Still YOUR Joy - by Janice
USUALLY IT IS NOT THE BIG THINGS THAT ROB US OF OUR JOY, IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS,
JUST AS IT ID THE LITTLE FOXES THE SPOIT THE VINES (SONG OF SOL. 2;15) SO IT IS THE MINOR IRRITATIONS AND TRIVAL INCONVENIENCES IN OUR DAILY LILFE THAT MOST OFTEN ROB US OF OUR JOY, IT MAY NOT SOUND AS THOUGH IT AMOUNTS TO MUCH AT THE MOMENT, BUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IT CAN BUILD UP AND BECOME A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT SITUATION IS THAT THE DEVIL IS PUTTING US TO THE TEST. HE IS PUSHING US TO THE LIMIT OF OUR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE TO SEE WHAT "TICKS US OFF". WHAT AGGRAVATES US TO DISTRACTION, WHAT CAUSES US TO LOSE CONTROL AND REACT NEGATIVELY. ONCE HE DISCOVERS WHAT THAT IS, HE WILL KEEP ON ATTACKING US IN THAT ARE3A SO HE CAN KEEP US INA CONTINUAL JOYLESS ATTITUDE.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO THE DEVIL TO STEAL OUR JOY? BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STENGTH. (NEH. 8;10) IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY JOY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY STRENGTH. IF WE HAVE NO SSTRENGH, WE HAVE NO RESISTANCE. IF WE CANNOT RESIST THE DEVIL, HE WON'T FLEE FROM US. IF SATAN DOESN'T FLEE FROM US, WE DON'T WIN. IT IS A VICIOUS CYCLE.
WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SATAN WANTS YOUR JOY. HE WANTS YOUR ATTIDUDE OF GRATITUDE. HE WANTS YOUR POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS. HE WANTS YOU GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AND INSTEAD OF BOLDLY PROCLAIMING, " THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE AND I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT". TO MURMUR AND COMPLAIN, "THIS IS GONNA BE A LOUSY DAY; I CAN TELL IT ALREADY. "HE WANTS YOU TO WAKE UP EVERY MONDAY MORNING DISMALLY DECLARING IT IS A "BLUE MONDAY." HE WANTS YOU TO FACE EACH NEW DAY FULLY EXPECTION IT TO BE A DISASTER AND FULLY EXPECTION GOD TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
PAUL KNEW ALL THIS. THAT 'S WHY HE WROTE TO THE BELIEVERS IN PHILIPPI THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD PREFER TO DEPART AND BE WITH THE LORD, HE EAS CERTAIN THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO ON LIVING SO HE COULD TEACH THEM HOW TO GROW IN FAITH AND HOW TO CELEBRATE LIFE MORE FULLY.
LIFE IS GOO. LIFE IS ENJOYABLE. LIFE IS FUN. IT IS EXCITING TO BE A CHRISTIAN. IT IS INVIGORATION TO FACE AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES. IT IS SATISFYING AND FULFILLING TO GROW IN FAITH IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD AND TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE HE HAS BESTOWED UPON IS IN ALL ITS FULLNESS AND ABUNDANCE.
GOD IS SO GOOD TO US, LET US GIVE HIM THANKS IN ALL THINGS.
JUST AS IT ID THE LITTLE FOXES THE SPOIT THE VINES (SONG OF SOL. 2;15) SO IT IS THE MINOR IRRITATIONS AND TRIVAL INCONVENIENCES IN OUR DAILY LILFE THAT MOST OFTEN ROB US OF OUR JOY, IT MAY NOT SOUND AS THOUGH IT AMOUNTS TO MUCH AT THE MOMENT, BUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IT CAN BUILD UP AND BECOME A SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT SITUATION IS THAT THE DEVIL IS PUTTING US TO THE TEST. HE IS PUSHING US TO THE LIMIT OF OUR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE TO SEE WHAT "TICKS US OFF". WHAT AGGRAVATES US TO DISTRACTION, WHAT CAUSES US TO LOSE CONTROL AND REACT NEGATIVELY. ONCE HE DISCOVERS WHAT THAT IS, HE WILL KEEP ON ATTACKING US IN THAT ARE3A SO HE CAN KEEP US INA CONTINUAL JOYLESS ATTITUDE.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO THE DEVIL TO STEAL OUR JOY? BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STENGTH. (NEH. 8;10) IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY JOY, WE DON'T HAVE ANY STRENGTH. IF WE HAVE NO SSTRENGH, WE HAVE NO RESISTANCE. IF WE CANNOT RESIST THE DEVIL, HE WON'T FLEE FROM US. IF SATAN DOESN'T FLEE FROM US, WE DON'T WIN. IT IS A VICIOUS CYCLE.
WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SATAN WANTS YOUR JOY. HE WANTS YOUR ATTIDUDE OF GRATITUDE. HE WANTS YOUR POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS. HE WANTS YOU GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AND INSTEAD OF BOLDLY PROCLAIMING, " THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE AND I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT". TO MURMUR AND COMPLAIN, "THIS IS GONNA BE A LOUSY DAY; I CAN TELL IT ALREADY. "HE WANTS YOU TO WAKE UP EVERY MONDAY MORNING DISMALLY DECLARING IT IS A "BLUE MONDAY." HE WANTS YOU TO FACE EACH NEW DAY FULLY EXPECTION IT TO BE A DISASTER AND FULLY EXPECTION GOD TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
PAUL KNEW ALL THIS. THAT 'S WHY HE WROTE TO THE BELIEVERS IN PHILIPPI THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WOULD PREFER TO DEPART AND BE WITH THE LORD, HE EAS CERTAIN THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO ON LIVING SO HE COULD TEACH THEM HOW TO GROW IN FAITH AND HOW TO CELEBRATE LIFE MORE FULLY.
LIFE IS GOO. LIFE IS ENJOYABLE. LIFE IS FUN. IT IS EXCITING TO BE A CHRISTIAN. IT IS INVIGORATION TO FACE AND OVERCOME CHALLENGES. IT IS SATISFYING AND FULFILLING TO GROW IN FAITH IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD AND TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE HE HAS BESTOWED UPON IS IN ALL ITS FULLNESS AND ABUNDANCE.
GOD IS SO GOOD TO US, LET US GIVE HIM THANKS IN ALL THINGS.
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