Joy!!

Well, this is my first blog. The Lord really impressed on me that I needed to start doing one of these things because Facebook doesn't allow me to write everything that's on my heart in one status update. So now I am free to spill my heart and not be limited. Also, to have what God is revealing to me in writing so that I can always go back and reread it to remind myself of the constant pressing forward that I am feeling. Plus, it helps me to write these feeling and little revelations down so that I don't forget them.

God truly gave me this revelation today. During some quit study time. I read over a scripture that a dear friend of mine sent to me because they felt led to do so. Later today I opened up the word and began to read that scripture(Philippians 3:12-16). After wards, I go back a few verses to read and did some studying through out the Word. God immediately spoke to me. The past couple of weeks I felt the enemy trying to attack my joy. I began to think about this and pray about it and this is the revelation that God gave me. I hope that it encourages you the way that it has encouraged me.

"Superficial happiness" is dependent on our circumstances. Christian joy is clearly different; it is rooted in a person's personal relationship with the Lord, and it is resilient even in the midst of suffering or even death. Joy comes in knowing that whatever happens, God will use everything for our ultimate good(Romans 5:3-4). Believers also have joy from the dynamic presence of God's Spirit in their hearts. The real secret to a joyful life is in being continuously "filled with the Holy Spirit"(Eph 5:8). The life and attitude of believers are not defined by outward circumstances, but by their relationship with a living God who reigns over all their circumstances. It's amazing to me to see that Jesus spoke more to his disciples about having joy in their hearts(John 15:11). It seems to me that the enemy is trying to attack the one thing that pretty much gives us life and that's the joy of the Lord. I mean think about it, "The joy of the Lord is my strength"(Nehemiah 8:10)?? I would think that if I am strengthened by the joy of the Lord, then the devil would do anything in his power to prevent me from obtaining that joy on a daily basis. The thing is that, I have to fight for it!! Sure, I believe there will be days when I wake up and have my coffee and feel joyful and peaceful. I also believe that there will be days that I will have to fight for that joy and protect it. Defend it at all costs. My heart bursts with joy knowing that I must be doing something right. The devil can feel the heat of what God has on the horizon for me. This feels me with joy and makes me a happy camper. :)