[joy]
the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness or felicity; a source or cause of delight
I read these exact words immediately after receiving my key that I got before leaving on the race. Everyone on my squad was given a key with different words on them from our leaders that they felt the Lord wanted us to have.
I walked up and got my key and I instantly looked at it as if I lacked this thing, JOY. That it was the Lord telling me I need to work on this, that I didn’t have any. I know now looking back that this was the enemy trying to attack me, telling me I’m not good enough.
After just finishing up my third month in the race I can confidently tell you that my mindset has been completely changed. I have had so much life spoken into me from my incredible teammates, my squad, and most importantly my Lord that joy RADIATES from my soul.
Here I was three months ago thinking I had so much improvement to do with this thing called joy and now I am walking in it and confidently KNOWING I have it because of my daily walk with HIM.
It’s so funny the amount of affirmation I have received about the joy that I hold. God kept speaking through others until I finally believed the words, and it took about 3 months to do so. He is persistent in His ways and I’m so thankful for that.
The JOY of the Lord is my STRENGTH
Nehemiah 8:10
Knowing that I always have contained joy is a beautiful thing. Since this realization, I carry this joy to another level. My relationship with the Lord has grown stronger through it, and I can feel my joy when I speak to others come from the Lord. He has opened my eyes to see something I’ve had all along, I just needed to step into it and believe it for myself.
I have grown so much in this now that I want to give this key to someone new. Someone that the Lord will highlight to me. Someone who has joy radiating from their soul, but the enemy is speaking lies to them. Someone who doesn’t see these lies they are living in-like I once was. They deserve to know how much joy they have and how much it INFLUENCES others around them.
Your Love has given me great JOY & encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people
Philemon 1:7
Carry your joy with confidence & give that joy to others around you. Don’t keep it for yourself. You can change the entire atmosphere in a room by doing this, I PROMISE you.
I want to make a conscious effort daily to wake up and CHOOSE joy. In the good, the bad. Yes, there will be days where I fail to do this. None of us are perfect.
Consider it pure JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
James 1:2-3
How comforting to know that when you & I fall, our loving Father will be right there to pick us up & we’ll be ready for whatever life throws at us because He has His protective hand over each and EVERY single one of us.
