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October 1, 2023
The Secret of Having Joy
This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad; for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 b NLT)
My precious child, why are you struggling with hopelessness when I came for you to have joy? The secret to having real joy is:
1. Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38)
2. Spend time in My presence (Nehemiah 8:10)
Through repentance, peace will flood your soul from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet! (Philippians 4:7) There will be a sweet refreshing! This peace is a gift from God only for believers. (John 14:27) Spending time in My presence and reading My Word is refreshing to your spirit and soul. In My presence you will be filled with joy, and joy gives you strength. (Psalms 16:11b) The joy of the Lord gives you strength! (Nehemiah 8:10) If you are not spending time in My presence, you will not have joy or strength, and you will lose your hope! The hope of the righteous (in right standing with God) brings joy! (Proverbs 10:28) The God of hope says, ‘This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friend if you do what I have commanded you. (John 15:13)’ Paul said, ‘much joy and comfort has arisen in me from your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you!’ (Philemon 1:7) He also said, ‘My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give him thanks for you with great joy! I’m so grateful for our union, and our enduring partnership that began the first time I presented to you the gospel. I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put His finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Philippians 1:3-6)
If the enemy has attacked you with hopelessness, the only way to get your hope back is to spend time in God’s presence, and He will refresh you, giving you peace, the fullness of joy and strength will arise in your body, soul, and strength!
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