Beloved,
Did you know that happiness and Joy are two very different things? Happiness is natural, Joy is spiritual.
Happy is what you are when your circumstances are great. Joy is a spiritual force that has been given to you to use to change your unhappy circumstances!
The Joy of the Lord is our strength, Nehemiah 8:10. Strength for what? Strength to endure until the manifestation of the promises of God in our lives!
Satan is fighting harder than ever to keep us from our expected end, Jeremiah 29:11. He has plenty of distractions. “If only I had been born in the right family.” “If only I had more education.” “If only my wife/husband…etc.”
The key to receiving God‘s promises, anyway, is to outlast the devil by allowing the force of Joy to undergird both your faith and your patience.
So, turn up the volume of the force of Joy in your life. How? Major on Praise & Worship! Listen to songs with lyrics that talk to the Father not just about Him and receive strength to stand through another day, week, month, year or decade if necessary!
I love you!
Pastor Shina
