In Touch - February 6, 2006
- Sign Up for Email?
- 2006 Feb 06
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Monday February 6, 2006
The Empowering Emotion of Joy
Jesus promised us His joy. However, such gladness evades most Christians.
There are certain important points to understand about joy. This gift to every believer in Christ has a spiritual source — the Holy Spirit — and is produced from within by Him. Being supernatural in nature, divine joy exists independently of our circumstances. Happiness, on the other hand, comes from external causes, is earthly in character, and increases or decreases as events change. The success of a sports team, recognition by others, or completion of a project all represent sources of earthly happiness.
Holy Spirit-developed joy comes when we:
• Focus on our relationship with the Lord.
Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and we are forever His. Nothing can separate us from Him in this life or in eternity.
• Observe His transforming work in others.
Notice and draw pleasure from what God is doing: rescuing people from bondage to sin and transforming them into His likeness.
• Serve those He sends to us. Our obedient, loving care for others brings spiritual joy.
• Meditate on God’s living Word. Through Scripture, we receive an outpouring of His love and precious truths on which to build our lives.
The Holy Spirit desires to produce gladness within you. Take a few minutes to ponder the wonder of your new birth, share someone’s spiritual joy, obediently serve someone else, or receive guidance from His Word. Then check your emotional barometer. Are you singing hallelujah yet?
 |
|
In Touch Ministries invites you to celebrate your love for God this month and receive our free offer of a set of two "Love Letter to God" cards. Register for your cards today and receive a free CD of Dr. Stanley's message "A Life of Love."
|
