2 Huge Battles (J)

Joy...


"Wait...what?"

Is that what just popped into your head?

Or something like it?

It might have been something like: 

"What does joy have to do with God? My joy comes from _________."

(Insert dancing, music, video games, a relationship, friends, adrenaline, beauty, etc...)

Maybe more likely, others may have thought:

"Joy? No, you must have me confused with someone who makes their living backpacking through Europe; someone with free time, or with an exciting life.  I'm just looking for ways to find relief from the monotony and the stress that is my life."

Sound familiar?

Consider this:
You are sitting. Yes, just sitting. In an airport... You are waiting for your second of three flights for the day. You are super excited, and you still have much of the joy and excitement that you woke up with this morning. BUT, your second flight has been delayed... and delayed... and delayed...
You now realize how close you will be cutting it trying to make your third and final flight.
Where's your joy right now?


So you finally get on the plane. Wow.
And then...
You miss the third flight...
Where's your joy now?

There are 2 huge battles going on in this world. Battles that effect every single person, whether you know it or not...

The battles are for Joy and Surrender.

These names may seem vague, so I'll explain:

The battle of Joy, is really more like a campaign of the enemy against our joy.

When was the last time you experienced joy?

Not so common, is it?

"So there was much joy in that city." Acts 8:8 

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;" Psalm 66:1

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11

"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice." Psalm 51:8

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4

"But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

We were meant to have Joy.


...We were meant to have Joy...