DARE TO SHINE HIS LIGHT ON JOY
By Gloria Copeland
Are your holidays lacking the real joy you know the season should bring? Even in what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, we can face situations that seem custom-designed to steal all the joy out of Christmas and life.
Financial pressure. Family dynamics. Work situations. Health concerns. These are all things that try to steal our joy every day of the year.
The world will tell you that it’s impossible to feel joyful or happy all the time, especially in the midst of challenges, and if you do, something must be wrong with you.
Well, the world is wrong again, because the Bible says something different. The Bible says the the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and without this joy, we won’t be able to live the blessed life God has planned for us at Christmas, or any other time of year.
That strength we find in Him gives us the power to overcome trials and great obstacles in our lives.
That’s what makes joy so crucial. You can’t live a life of faith without being strong in the Lord–and when God wants to make you strong, joy is what He uses to do the job.
The joy of the Lord is not dependent upon your circumstances–it comes from your spirit. When the truth in God’s Word gets down into your spirit, the truth will set you free from bondage, depression, and fear.
JOY STEALERS–Depression, Fear, and Unforgiveness–-Choose to be full of joy.