Orange words are the paragraphs from the extract and
Yellow words are what I've gone through today.
One of the most popular passages in the Bible is
Nehemiah 8:10: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Why is joy important? Because the "joy of the Lord is your strength!" Joy produces strength. And strength is needed to fight. You are called to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy
I was just chatting with Benjamin a couple of days ago and I asked him why he is always so joyful no matter what is happening to him. It’s like, if you see him with a frown, something big must be happening! He told me because he has got Jesus in his life, that’s why he’s so joyful! And on that very day, my Quiet Time was on Joy as well. I believe that God has used these 2 situations to encourage my heart today.
REJOICE ALWAYS
Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" How often are you to rejoice? You know the answer: Always! You are to rejoice always, because "joy" is the easiest fruit to lose. You can't live off of the joy you had yesterday. Joy can give you strength only when you possess it.
If you had joy last week, that joy will not give you strength today. Joy can only give you strength today, if you have it today. This is why you must rejoice always.
Just last year and also this year, the greatest lesson that God has taught me is to be thankful in all circumstances and to rejoice in all circumstances. It was hard but whenever I did that, I really feel so much better. I just had one of the worst days today where I was really feeling blue. I had no joy in my heart and feeling really helpless at such a situation that was placed in front of me. It seemed like a mountain that I can never conquer.
You might say, "I don't feel like rejoicing." God didn't say, "Rejoice, only if you feel like it." No! He said, "Rejoice always." Obviously, God knows that you don't feel like rejoicing always. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight.
Yes, I didn’t felt like rejoicing. My heart was at a mess. I was really tired (mentally and physically). I raised my voice at Mummy today just because I was almost late for work. I happily went down to Starhub at TM and got the news that the phone I wanted is out of stock. I travelled home and fell asleep because I was too tired. Then I woke up after a half an hour nap and travelled to church. Bus waiting has never been so long (about 20mins).
James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Pure joy is not happiness. "Happiness" comes from the word "happen." Happiness, therefore, is based on what is happening. If something good is happening, then you are happy. However, God says that pure joy occurs even in the midst of trials -- even when the car breaks down, or when the kids get sick, or when the boss cuts your hours, or when your spouse is in a bad mood, etc.
I messaged Michelle Tan to share with her my bad day and asked her to keep me in prayer. I prayed silently in my heart too. I prayed for more joy to overflow in me. I was actually on my way to church to teach some youths a dance for a rally for the Batam mission trip. I told God. I want to serve you with joy and not with complaints and a heavy and burdened spirit.
Why is James telling us to count it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight your trials, and if you'll fight the trials, you will overcome. James continues, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (v. 4). You see, James has in mind "victory over trials", not "acceptance of his trials." So by rejoicing, you overcome your trials.
As I was walking to church after I alighted from the bus, I remembered this sharing about joy with Benjamin. I started to sing “With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm” followed by “I’ve got the joy down in my heart” and some other joyful children praise songs. I really felt better. And really, when I reached church, I felt rather energetic and excited to teach them the dance. And throughout the lesson, the youths brought me so much joy and laughter when they dance. (It was really hilarious!) It brightened up my day!
It’s a victorious day. Thank you Lord for making it possible. I can only do this with Your strength.
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