21 Day Fast Day 19
Today is Week 3 Day 19 of our 21 Day Fast, January 26, 2024.
What does joy mean to you? What makes you joyful? What feelings does it produce in you? I read this definition of the difference between joy and happiness from the ministry to orphaned children, Compassion. Joy is an inner feeling, Happiness is an outward expression. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. A person pursues happiness but chooses joy. My relationship with my wife gives me great joy. My children and grandchildren give me joy. Joy produces such a warm sense of wellbeing. It’s the reward of close relationships. But the greatest sense of joy I’ve ever experienced is the Joy of the Lord. The first time it felt like I melted in his presence with such a glorious sense of his love and closeness. It coursed through my whole body. That was certainly a high-water mark for me, but every time we pray we should pause to engage personally with the Lord and tell him how much we love him. Our circumstances may not change but our emotions will and enable us to be more receptive to his embrace. The fact that we were created in his image and have received him as our Lord and Savior has transformed us into being just like him. We can experience his fullness and that joy whenever we desire. Our problem is we can just get so busy that we forget to make that connection. Meditate on the following great verses and let them lead the way to greater joy.
Nehemiah 8:10b (ESV), for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Isaiah 35:10 (ESV) 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Romans 14:17 (ESV) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Make God richly bless you and fill you with His Joy in abundance.
Love and blessings,
Pastor Ray
Keep reading these verses and let them sink deep into your heart!
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
What does joy mean to you? What makes you joyful? What feelings does it produce in you? I read this definition of the difference between joy and happiness from the ministry to orphaned children, Compassion. Joy is an inner feeling, Happiness is an outward expression. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. A person pursues happiness but chooses joy. My relationship with my wife gives me great joy. My children and grandchildren give me joy. Joy produces such a warm sense of wellbeing. It’s the reward of close relationships. But the greatest sense of joy I’ve ever experienced is the Joy of the Lord. The first time it felt like I melted in his presence with such a glorious sense of his love and closeness. It coursed through my whole body. That was certainly a high-water mark for me, but every time we pray we should pause to engage personally with the Lord and tell him how much we love him. Our circumstances may not change but our emotions will and enable us to be more receptive to his embrace. The fact that we were created in his image and have received him as our Lord and Savior has transformed us into being just like him. We can experience his fullness and that joy whenever we desire. Our problem is we can just get so busy that we forget to make that connection. Meditate on the following great verses and let them lead the way to greater joy.
Nehemiah 8:10b (ESV), for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Isaiah 35:10 (ESV) 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Romans 14:17 (ESV) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Make God richly bless you and fill you with His Joy in abundance.
Love and blessings,
Pastor Ray
Keep reading these verses and let them sink deep into your heart!
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
21 Day Fast Day 121 Day Fast Day 221 Day Fast Day 321 Day Fast Day 421 Day Fast Day 521 Day Fast Day 621 Day Fast Day 721 Day Fast Day 821 Day Fast Day 921 Day Fast Day 1021 Day Fast Day 1121 Day Fast Day 1221 Day Fast Day 1321 Day Fast Day 1421 Day Fast Day 1521 Day Fast Day 1621 Day Fast Day 1721 Day Fast Day 1821 Day Fast Day 1921 Day Fast Day 2021 Day Fast Day 21
Categories
no categories
No Comments