Word for the day "5 Ways to experience the Joy of living"
James 1:2 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
As people of God, we are not immune to life’s struggles.
I have discovered in my experience both externally and privately that many people, who follow Jesus, think they shouldn’t struggle.
We think God will give us lives of ease and comfort once we decide to follow Christ. The idea is: If we are good Christians, we will have it all together.
If we have enough faith, our conflicts and problems would resolve themselves. How do you feel about this?
When you come to Christ, does your problems disappear? In fact, many churches will communicate that very message week in and week out.
As a result, those who attend those churches hide their struggles, because they mistakenly equate struggles with a lack of faith. Have you heard this before?
But our walk with Jesus was never meant to be a stroll through the park people of God. Following Jesus won’t remove struggles from your life; in fact, it often adds to your struggle.
(If I was in the pulpit, I’d ask you to say Amen) Some of the most committed people of God have lived some of the most difficult lives.
I know this is right today because some of you reading this message right now are living witnesses of this truth.
Learn how to see your times of trial and difficulties from God’s perspective.
The Bible in today’s message goes so far as to tell us to expect trials and difficulties and to be joyful when we face them.
With Christ, you can do that, on your own, you are destined to fail. Having Christ in your life provides some biblical point of references to view the challenges in your life.
Trials reveal how I am by nature. I can see, for example, that I place demands on others, or that I am unthankful or impatient.
But being able to see my own nature is God’s great grace. It is light from heaven that makes things clear for me.
Here are the 5 ways to experience the Joy of living:
- Have a mature understanding of what the Bible says about Joy.
- Understand that joy is not predicated on happenings or events.
- Joy is understanding who God is in your life, and who you are in God.
- Joy is one of the most matured perspectives of your relationship with God.
- Joy establishes order in our lives: J-Jesus, O- Others- Y-Yourself.
Quote: “Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever”. By Brennan Manning
Special Thanks!
Our Leadership team is especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of April 2019 by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. David Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Cynthia Waiters-Artis, Mother Betty Denson, Ms. Darlene Simmons, Mrs. Denise Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Marguerite Williams, Mr. William Jones, Ms. Evonne Bazemore, Mr. William Wilson, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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