07/17/18 CHECKING YOUR JOY LEVEL
Ask friends and loved ones if you come across as a stoic, a sourpuss or a serene person?
Please read my comment.
THIS IS NOT FOR FUN, IT IS FOR JOY
(fun comes from circumstances, JOY comes from a right relationship with God)
I would have chosen the word, "JOYFUL" instead of SERENE, but I wanted a word that starts with "S". Still, SERENE (calm, peaceful, untroubled; tranquil) is a good word, but it limits my idea but it was the best "S" word I could find. In fact, another word I started to use was, "SUNNY," but that seemed too light and frivolous. In fact, I am sure it would be considered too POLLYANNA-ISH, which is a favorite word used in attacking those who choose to live by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
There were other words I could have used in the place of "stoic" and "sourpuss," such as ANGRY, DISCOURAGED, BURDENED, DEPRESSED, HOPELESS, OVERWHELMED, ADULT, RESPONSIBLE. Yes, there are many things that contribute to our feelings and our dispositions, but our demeanor should be one of joy, peace, faith, hope, it should show the presence of God in us, it should be a holy ENTHUSIASM (God within).
It is easy to blame our gloominess our heaviness, our distressed appearance on our circumstances or our personality type or simply ascribe it to being "realistic." BUT IT AIN'T CHRISTIAN. And Christians do not live by the standards of the world. Christians do not live in the power of the "natural," but in the power of the supernatural, the power of the Spirit of God.
It is one thing "to have troubles," but it is a different thing for "troubles to have us."
Jesus came that we might have HIS JOY and that OUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL. If we really do have the FULLNESS OF HIS JOY, then we are not going to appear stoic, sour, morbid, depressed, discouraged, and a host of other negative, dark descriptions.
THIS IS NOT JUST MY OPINION, IT IS IS GOD'S REVELATION.
God delivers from the chains of gloominess. God's word denounces negativity and delivers from devilish discouragement. We overcome darkness by FAITH. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. READ, HEAR, HEED HIS WORD. Meditate on the following verses and then believe them for deliverance from chains of oppression.
John 15:11
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 17:13
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Romans 5:2-5
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 15:13
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Philippians 4:4
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
16 Rejoice evermore.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 4:13
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 John 1:4
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
