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Fruit of the Spirit, Joy - Weekly Devotional
This week's focus: Joy
What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8). Jesus prayed that our joy might continue fulfilling itself until it becomes the same joy as His. Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “…the cares of this world…choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares. All that God has done for us is merely the threshold— He wants us to come to the place where we will be His witnesses and proclaim who Jesus is.
By: Oswald Chambers
John 15:11 (NKJV)
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Prayer Points:
- Lord, thank You for your Word. But how easily we become distracted. Help me to not allow a “subtle irritability created by giving too much thought to my circumstances” arise and choke Your Word. Fill us with the joy of Your presence.
- Pray for the increasing immigration crisis. We recently talked with one of our faithful volunteers whose family has owned land on the Texas/Mexico border for 100 years. Hear her powerful story on the immigration crisis in her area and her thoughts on how we can be praying about it here.
We want to see God honored in America, and we pray for an unprecedented spiritual awakening.
This devotion was produced in partnership with Every Home for Christ.
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