This week, the community of faith is focused on joy. Joy is often misunderstood and mistaken for happiness. For those outside the community, joy is a feeling of great pleasure of happiness. But, for the community of faith, joy is more than a feeling.
When we think about joy, most of us reflect on the end of Nehemiah 8:10, where Nehemiah told the people that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Joy has to be more than a feeling. Joy is knowing that God is faithful and He will do what He promised. While happiness is dependent on external situations, joy comes from our relationship with our God. When we experience the pressures of life, happiness takes an exit, but when we reflect on our God and His faithfulness, we find strength and experience His joy.
The Epistle of Philippians is called the Epistle of Joy, even though it was written from prison. The word joy or rejoice is a constant theme. Paul was focused on God, not his surroundings. He gave some insight about his joy when he said, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT). Let us follow his example and fill our thoughts on with these things.
Thought for Today: Friend, let the joy of the Lord be your strength.
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Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
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