praise God. Am new in the faith as I dedicated my life recently. I was born again when in my teens but backslid. those days I had a lot of fire for Jesus and was willing to shout it from the mountaintops. But now I am swamped with enough worries of the world that I feel like something is missing. Even though I may not have that youthful energy I had in previous years, how do I truly experience the Joy of the Lord and derive strength from it? Its a concept am trying to grasp. My situation at the moment is far from ideal, especially as far as our finances are concerned. My husband is jobless, I have a child and expecting another. Sometimes its hard to smile when the bills are piling up but I somehow feel I should learn that concept and derive strength from it. Please enlighten me.

God bless,
Sue

Sue
Welcome to the message board. This is a very important question. If you just concider what God has done for you already you will be thankful and happy. He took your punishmennts for sin and became sin and bore all your diseases and infirmaties(1 Peter 2:24--Isaiah 53) so you won't have to face judgement of hell, eternal separation from God plus you are called children of God and inherit the kingdom of God in this life and eternity. Jesus said" I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.
Then read His many promises in His word such as listed in Psalm 34....and in the gospels. Read His word daily because faith comes by the word of God (Hebrews 11.)Meditate on the word and ask the holy spirit to teach you and help your faith. I am holding you up in prayer.
Matthew 6:33...."Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness then all these things ( listed in the chapter) will be added to you."

[This message was edited by Pax on April 02, 2003 at 03:03 PM.]

Hi Sue,

Welcome on board the board!!!

If you remember the lyrics of the song "Amazing Grace", you will have cause to thank God first for your salvation because this is the most important treasure without measure.

The encouragement I will give are based on what I read in the scriptures yesterday. It is taken from Judges 20. Despite the fact that Israel asked counsel of the Lord before going to battle against Benjamin, they were defeated twice. It looked so foolish but Israel did not give up. It was at the third attempt that Israel defeated the tribe of Benjamin almost to the point of extinction.

This message also tallies with the message on the board today about being committed and perservering in Christ. There are indeed no shortcuts.

To remain victorious, you need a daily dose of:

1. God's word - Ps 1:2
2. Prayer - Ps 4:1
3. Fellowshiping with the right company - Ps 1:1
4. Giving - Although sounds tough with your situation, you MUST

Hi Sue,

Welcome on board the board!!!

If you remember the lyrics of the song "Amazing Grace", you will have cause to thank God first for your salvation because this is the most important treasure without measure.

The encouragement I will give are based on what I read in the scriptures yesterday. It is taken from Judges 20. Despite the fact that Israel asked counsel of the Lord before going to battle against Benjamin, they were defeated twice. It looked so foolish but Israel did not give up. It was at the third attempt that Israel defeated the tribe of Benjamin almost to the point of extinction.

This message also tallies with the message on the board today about being committed and perservering in Christ. There are indeed no shortcuts.

To remain victorious, you need a daily dose of:

1. God's word - Ps 1:2
2. Prayer - Ps 4:1
3. Fellowshiping with the right company - Ps 1:1
4. Giving - Although sounds tough with your situation, you MUST give both
to man and to God.
5. Your delight should be in HIM only - Ps 37
6. Let your confession and your meditation align with God's thought
for you - Jer. 29:11
7. Learning how to be in HIS presence with praise even when it is odd -
remember Jehosphahat - 2 Chron. 20
8. Asking help of the Holy Spirit because HE is our comforter.

It may look like a tall order, definitely like Nehemiah faced troubles when building the wall of Jerusalem and knowing victory comes from God, you will one day say, ...eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Neh. 8:10

It is well with your soul.

Sue!

Father, in the name of Jesus, I approach Your
throne of grace, bringing Sue and family before you. I recognize that we grieving is a human emotional process, and I give them the space that both need to enter into rest that You have for them.

May you grace be gentle knowing that they are not alone in their grief. You Lord are with all of the family. You promised You will never leave him or her without your support. I pray that your Love will give then great joy and comfort and encouragement.May you send the Holy Spirit to comfort, counsel, help interecede for, defend, streghten and stand by Sue and family.

May prayers are with yours!!

John Trevino

Sue,

I am truly sorry that you are experiencing the hardships that you have right now and I will keep you in my prayers. Whatever your trial I know that God can use it for His good purpose. I make mention of your question about the "joy of the Lord" without making light of what you are going through.

The Joy of the Lord is not necessarily a bubbly outward expression that one has to maintain at all times. It is more like the faith that Habakkuk expressed in Ch.3:17-19:

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."

It is a joy deep within knowing above all that God's ways are higher than our own, that He will never leave or forsake us and will be with us until the end. It is an acknowledgment that our troubles achieve an eternal glory that far outweighs any trial we could go through. (II Cor. 4:17)

Deep joy in the Lord comes when we have found our resting place in Him. As in Psalm 91 we are sheltered under His wing. Joy comes in knowing that we are in His care regardless of what we have to endure for a time. There is always hope when we trust in Him and in hope there is joy!

I pray you will see the Almighty working on your behalf during these times and that you will find strength in Him.

Blessings,

Chelki

Psalm 3:3 "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."

Thanks Chelki and my other dear brothers and sisters who have addressed my query. I guess I was thinking it would be a bubbly feeling all the time but I like the idea of looking at it as trials whose benefit far outweighs the present sorrows. Thanks for shedding light on the issue. I will meditate on it more seriously when I start feeling low.

God bless,
sue