In spite of what it looks like!

Have you ever asked yourself why you allow certain people or things to rob you of your joy? The joy of the Lord is our strength! Yet, when we allow outside circumstances to dictate our praise we feel empty. There is a void that we feel. Not only a void that we can feel, but a void that needs to be filled! Don't you want joy in spite of what it looks like?


I was asked today why I did not blog. It caught me off guard. I used to blog. It was a while back. I can not even remember my blogging information. Yes, it has been that long. I say this to say that joy comes from allowing God to flow through us. It comes from deciding that what comes what may you will choose to rejoice. The word of God says in all things rejoice. Philippians 4:4"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" That means regardless of what it looks or feels like. This lets me know that when I am weary in my well doing I still need to rejoice. When I am faced with a hard decision or a storm is raging in my life I still must rejoice.


In order to have the joy unspeakable and the peace unimaginable I must be anchored in the King of Kings. I must have a made up mind that the joy that I have the world did not give it to me and the world can not and will not take it away! When we make up in our minds that joy everlasting comes not from outside but from inside we will not be held hostage to our emotions. Our emotions will be held hostage to the word of God when we are anchored to God! For God is His word.


I love to write! I love to journal! Blogging comes natural. It is a way to deposit what God has placed inside of me. It is a way to spread the joy that I have. It is a way to declare through my words that there is power in being positive. There is power in having control over what you speak and what you think. So I ask you do you have joy? Nehemiah8:10 "The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong." Not only will I ask do you have joy. I will ask do you have strength? Don't allow yourself to be less than because you do not operate out of the power that lies on the inside of you. When you are faced with a choice to rejoice or throw a pity party choose to rejoice. Rejoicing activates joy! Rejoicing activates soundness of mind. Rejoicing activates the power that lies within! In spite of what it looks like take the time to rejoice in the Lord! For He is good and His mercy endures forever! This joy that I have the world did not give it to me and the world can not and will not take it away!