Long for joy? Try these tactics. Joy is possible!

           God Bless

    

Fifteen Tactics for Joy

John Piper

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

How shall we fight for joy?

1. Realize that authentic joy in God is a gift.
2. Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly.
3. Resolve to attack all known sin in your life.
4. Learn the secret of gutsy guilt — how to fight like a justified sinner.
5. Realize that the battle is primarily a fight to see God for who he is.
6. Meditate on the Word of God day and night.
7. Pray earnestly and continually for open heart-eyes and an inclination for God.
8. Learn to preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself.
9. Spend time with God-saturated people who help you see God and fight the fight.
10. Be patient in the night of God’s seeming absence.
11. Get the rest, exercise, and proper diet that your body was designed by God to have.
12. Make a proper use of God’s revelation in nature.
13. Read great books about God and biographies of great saints.
14. Do the hard and loving thing for the sake of others (witness and mercy).
15. Get a global vision for the cause of Christ and pour yourself out for the unreached.

Do Not Repay Anyone Evil For Evil

Yeah, when something happens to me, I want payback. I think I deserve justice. It's only fair right?

But according to the word, it goes against everything that is God with God and His plan for peoples lives.

He is in the people business and He longs to live in the hearts of others and it's my job not to question His ways but give Him an open door to mount up on eagle wings and change their lives for the better.

God Bless.


Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


A few days ago, we saw that we should bless our enemies. That theme is carried through today as Paul says to provide food and drink to your enemies. The burning coals symbolize how someone feels when they receive something they don’t deserve.

If you treat your enemies with kindness, they will feel certain remorse if they realize they have wronged you in the past. This could change their lives and save them. It doesn’t always, and we cannot control that. This is where we need to have peace about outcomes. It is for God to repay wrongdoing; He’s the only one qualified.

 Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Jesus Daily: Bible Devotional' android app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idelata.JesusDaily

Dealing With Distractions

There are a lot of days I go to bed and wonder, "what did you get done today?" And the answer is usually the same, not much.

I wake with a plan of action but it falls to pieces usually before my feet hit the floor getting out of bed.

I'm constantly dealing with phone calls from my mother, other family thing, insecure husband, and the lungs of children I have to wonder if there wasn't some sort of mix up at the hospital.

Everyday, all day, there is something pulling me away from what I truly long to do. So when I came across this little devotional, I was thrilled someone else had problems with distractions, and it just wasn't a me thing. So who am I not to share the wealth? My prayer is this will be a help and blessing to others.

God Bless.

Dealing With Distractions

David C. McCasland

Matthew 13:14-22
The cares of this world . . . choke the word. -Matthew 13:22

A restaurant owner in the village of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem, offered a 50-percent discount for patrons who turned off their cell phones. Jawdat Ibrahim believes that smartphones have shifted the focus of meals from companionship and conversation to surfing, texting, and business calls. "Technology is very good," Ibrahim says. "But . . . when you are with your family and your friends, you can just wait for half an hour and enjoy the food and enjoy the company."

How easily we can be distracted by many things, whether in our relationship with others or with the Lord.

Jesus told His followers that spiritual distraction begins with hearts that have grown dull, ears that are hard of hearing, and eyes that are closed (Matt. 13:15). Using the illustration of a farmer scattering seed, Jesus compared the seed that fell among thorns to a person who hears God's Word but whose heart is focused on other things. "The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (v.22).

There is great value in having times throughout each day when we turn off the distractions of mind and heart and focus on the Lord.

O Lord, help me to turn off all the
distractions around me and focus on You.
May my heart be good soil for the
seed of Your Word today.

Focusing on Christ puts everything else in perspective.
Ezekiel 16-17; James 3
© 2014 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Men Ought Always To Pray, And Not To Faint

I'm not the best person to be relied upon to pray for someone. I question my ability. Will I say the right thing.
Why me? The list is endless.

However, I'm not stupid. It's not about me and my wants. It's about what He wants. And He told me to pray and pray, and when I think I've prayed enough pray some more.

Since I've given my life over to this calling, not saying I'm perfect at it mind you, my life is so much richer. I've seen God in more area's then I had before.

I've been awaken to the realization that it's not my ability but God's and He longs to make things new and His design plan is He needs someone to pick up the mantle of prayer and loose Him to have free reign and that is what I strive for.

So when I came across this devotional, I knew I couldn't be the only one. So be encouraged when times get tough, then get tougher there is a world who needs us!

God Bless.


Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. – Luke 18:1

We are all in danger of growing careless in the matter of prayer. Many people never pray at all. Even many of those who say prayers regularly do not pray. As the flowers and plants on the earth need sunshine and rain from the heavens, so human lives need the benediction of God’s love and grace continually.

The special lesson in prayer taught here is earnestness, importunity. We ought always to pray, and not to faint – that is, we should never get discouraged in our praying. Some people, after pleading for something for a long time, give it up just when God is about to send the answer.

It seems strange to have this unjust judge taken as an illustration of God, in any sense, or to have the judge’s selfish acts used to show us how we can win blessings from God. But the meaning is, that if an unjust judge can be so influenced by persistent pleading, much more will the kind, loving Father be influenced by the importunate pleadings of His own needy children.

Mornings with God

Triumphing Over Trails

I hate trials. If I had my way, I'd never have another one again. I think they are stupid and pointless. That is what I say every time I get into one but after it's all said and done, my life is forever changed for the better. 

So maybe God knows what He is talking about after all. This little devotional gives you a little bit of a boost and hope for when you are faced, or in a battle for your life.

Just remember, God loves you and YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!!

Triumphing over Trials

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake… Philippians 1:29 NKJV

Why should we be excited about having the privilege of suffering for Christ’s sake? God is not in the business of deception. So while this verse may seem disheartening, to the believer, it is actually a truly exciting promise! Those who are walking and growing in Christ must have this knowledge ingrained in their hearts: the greater the battle, the greater the victory.

Good soldiers do not run away from the battle. They run right in, knowing that they have the training and tools to be victorious. They are ready to bring glory and honor to their king and to benefit their people.

You might say that you aren’t a soldier, but if you are in Christ, that is exactly what you are. Only your flesh, if allowed to dominate, will bar you from the privilege of participating in the battle.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. (2 Corinthians2:14 NKJV)

God will never lead us into a trial that He won’t give us the power to overcome. He does not abuse His children. We do not need to worry when we face storms, because the Holy Spirit always knows the beginning from the end. He knows how to lead us to victory. By His grace, we can push through every storm to see the clear skies that follow.

Do you want to face trials with the heart of a faithful soldier? 

Pray:

Father, forgive me for the times when I’ve decided to run from a storm instead of facing it head on. Holy Spirit, I ask for all of the resources and tools You have available for me. Reveal Your truth to me as I go deeper into Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Source Unknown

Praying For Those

I don't think I ever realized how important praying for others truly is. I guess I've lived a live of pure selfishness concerned only how things benefited me.

When I ran across this little devotional, I began to see just how truly it isn't about me and what I want but about those people I claim I love and who I promised to pray for but never did because I forgot or other selfish reasons.

So I needed to have a slight slap in the face to be woken up and truly begin a journey that has been full of blessing and unspeakable rewards. In praying for others, I've gotten close to my Father who has people on Heart and He delights when His people pick up on His heart as well.

So see in the end, it's not always going to be about us, but what we did with to help others ease their burdens and we start by praying for them even if it's right there in the grocery store aisle.


God Bless.


Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. (NLT) -Romans 15:30

How does it feel when you find out someone has been praying for you? It's a touching feeling to know someone who loves you is putting their weight into petitioning God for your causes. It is a sign of love. Are you praying for those that you love and joining in their struggles?

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Ready All The Time

Do you realize how close we are to the return of Christ? It's got to be milliseconds in God's timing. There is nothing left, no prophecy, or anything else that needs to happen.

We need to be ready all the time now. You just don't know. Things are happening so fast. You could be here today and raptured tomorrow.

I want to be ready. The bible states when you hear of these things, look up for your redemption drawth nigh. I'm in the lookout mode. I am anxiously awaiting to be lifted off this crazy earth and reunited with the Lover of my soul.

Join me and get ready!!!

God Bless.


You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. (NLT) -Matthew 24:44

Ever had a pop quiz where a teacher surprisingly hands out a quiz without any notice? If you have been studying and following along then you find yourself prepared for the unexpected.

The same is true for Christ's return in that we have no way of knowing when it will happen. Are you making choices and living in a manner that means you are prepared for the unexpected return of Christ?

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://bit.ly/16uZrQ5