Sweet Essence of Joy

Romans 15:13 (VOICE) I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, just as you would use an extract to infuse a baked good with flavor, so you should allow the sweet essence of joy to infuse your life. Let its pleasant and pervasive flavor penetrate every aspect of your world. Allow it to color how you see and respond – let it guide your choices and actions. 

Just as when baked goods are shared with others that they are blessed by the sweet flavors, so your life and outlook will bless those around you. You will bring sweet joy to their lives and stir up hope for their own. So surrender to joy, beloved, and watch how it changes not only you, but the world around you.

Rest in Joy

Romans 12:12 (VOICE) Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer.

Beloved, choose to rest in joy. There is always something for which to have gratitude. At all times and through every experience, you can choose to maintain a state of joyous appreciation for My goodness to you. Joy is a choice. 

So choose to rest in joy even as you persist in prayer – trusting Me to move rightly, for I AM good. Your concerns are important to Me and never out of My thoughts. I never treat your heart lightly, beloved. So resist the urge to indulge in worry, and rather choose to be steadfast in joyful gratitude. 

The Joy of Eternal Life

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Beloved, know that I have given you fullness of joy because I have granted you complete access to My Presence. Resist the urge to become discouraged when the earthly realm shifts your focus and you feel out of alignment with Me. Simply stop, take a breath, and seek Me. Look to the Cross and remember that the way has been paved back into the Garden of My Presence. Your old life is gone and I have made you new. The newness of life that you now have is eternal and lived by faith, and daily I call you to discover what that means. Continue reading “The Joy of Eternal Life”

Song of Joy

Psalm 30:4-5 (TPT) O sing and make melody, you steadfast lovers of God. Give thanks to him every time you reflect on his holiness! I’ve learned that his anger lasts for a moment, but his loving favor lasts a lifetime! We may weep through the night, but at daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy.

Beloved, keep an attitude of gratitude in your heart and a song of joy on your lips. Pause and reflect, and you will see there is always something worth praising Me for. You are alive. You are breathing. You are loved. Dayenu – what I have done already is sufficient. 

Resist the urge to focus on that which discourages and tears down – that which inspires fear and disappointment. Rather be intentional to look at the beauty I’ve placed in your life – even if it is something as simple as a lovely night sky or the kindness of a stranger. May your eyes be open and alert to My goodness, and may your heartsong always be one of joy. 

Let Joy Blossom

Psalm 5:11 (VOICE) But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did; let them break out in joyful song. May You keep them safe— their love for You resounding in their hearts.

Beloved, let joy resound in your heart. You are loved. You are seen. You are accepted – flaws and all. You are safe with Me. For My heart towards you is good, so you need never doubt My intentions toward you. 

Hiding yourself away is not where safety is found, for fear too easily grows in dark, quiet corners. So invite Me into your space. Include Me in your tender moments and times of trial. Trust Me to be a tender, safe place for you to rest. And let joy blossom as you dwell in My presence. 

Choose Obedience

1 John 5:3 (VOICE) You see, to love God means that we keep His commands, and His commands don’t weigh us down.

Beloved, choose to walk in obedience not because you fear punishment, but rather because your love for Me is so great and your honor for Me goes so deep you’d never want to choose differently. You want to choose My blessings – the ones that come by obedience. Just as a good earthly father rewards good behavior, so do I. But even so, resist the urge to obey simply for My rewards. 

Instead just love Me so much that you want to obey My instructions with a joyous heart to demonstrate your love for Me. You know if I’ve said it, it must be important – even if you don’t understand. Choose obedience above understanding. Beloved, obeying My Word is not a burden, it is where true joy and blessing are found.

Hope as You Wait

Romans 12:12 (VOICE) Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer.

Beloved, hope as you wait. Stay in a place of joyous expectation because you know who I AM and you know My character. You trust Me. You choose to trust Me.

Share your heart with Me in prayer. And remember to cast your cares on Me, for I AM fully willing and able to carry it all. So stir up your hope, and wait in joyous peace knowing the God you serve is completely faithful. 

Unquenchable Passion

Song of Solomon 8:7 (VOICE) No amount of water can quench love; a raging flood cannot drown it out…

Beloved, burn with a passion that refuses to be quenched. No trial or perceived lack can cause you to doubt the intensity of your feelings for Me. The actions of others cannot shift your gaze, but rather your wholehearted love is steadfast and sure. 

Be ardent, beloved. Singleminded and unwavering in your affection. Then allow your actions to flow from this foundation of love, for when you love Me to a point of near obsession, you cannot hate or resent My creation. Mirroring My heart of grace and compassion becomes easier because your heart is fixed on Me. 

In the same way, your work will flow from a heart of love rather than obligation. You’ll know you have no need to earn My affection because it is already most assuredly yours. Then the joy of partnering with Me truly is a joy and not a burden. So flow from a place of love and burn with unquenchable passion for Me. Continue reading “Unquenchable Passion”

His Cherished One

Psalm 16:8 (NIV) I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Although more often than not we count on the people around us and their prayers, nothing has your back more than Papa! Yes, it’s wonderful to have loved ones pray for you but in the end, even if nobody will ever utter one prayer for you, you will always be the favorite one in God’s eyes! Continue reading “His Cherished One”

Season of Breakthrough

Isaiah 61:2 (VOICE) He has sent me to announce the year of jubilee, the season of the Eternal’s favor: for our enemies it will be a day of God’s wrath; For those who mourn it will be a time of comfort.

Beloved, the time for mourning is past. Embrace the season of breakthrough with all the joy of a new day. Those that come against you shall fail, and those who stand beside you will prosper. 

Resist the urge to rejoice in the defeat of your enemies. Instead pray that they would choose more wisely – that all may see, know, and embrace truth, and walk in the freedom of righteousness.