THE TARGET: STEAL YOUR JOY!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
JOY ON PURPOSE, WE ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE WITH A FULL JOY TANK!
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SATANIC GOAL THAT HINDER GOD’S PEOPLE AND STEAL THEIR JOY?
* 7 million 65 and older suffer from depression in the USA. The signs of this depression are: lack of concentration; fatigue; lack of motivation; feeling sad; loss of interest; aches and pains; negative thoughts; difficulty sleeping; isolation; and change of appetite.
* 8 million 65 and older suffer from ANXIETY in the USA. The warning signs of worry and anxiety are: feeling on the edge; muscle tension; lack of concentration; difficulty sleeping; excessive worry; feeling tired and fatigued; isolation; over eating; and not being active.
WE NEED A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND ACTION. LET US START A NEW DAY. JOY STARTS AT HOME. OUR ENEMY HAS SEVERAL GOALS TO COME AGAINST US IN HIS DAILY ROUTINE. WE MUST STAND ON THE PROMISES OF A LOVING SAVIOR.
The whole nation has disappointed God. Sin has been rampant. The people have failed God, their families and themselves. They realize how far they have fallen and the tears are flowing like a river. Nehemiah, the preacher calls an assembly. We have cried enough. Let us get up and start a new day. We have repented. GO HOME AND CELEBRATE. Today is a new day. God forgives. LET HIM.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, 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.
Nehemiah 8:10 (MSG) He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of GOD is your strength!"
GOD HAS NEW PLANS, QUIT WORRYING ---LET US TURN ALL THIS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY OF THIS SEASON IN THE VALLEY INTO A NEW THING, A NEW HOPE. WE NEED TO SEE GOD GIVES HOPE AND JOY.
Hosea 2:15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
GOD HAS BETTER FOR US. GOD’S TENDER MERCIES CAN BE EXTENDED FOR THOSE THAT HAVE HURT YOU! GOD’S PLAN IS TO RESTORE JOY TO YOUR FAMILY. WE MAY HAVE BEEN LOSERS BUT LET US CLAIM THE DOUBLE PORTION.
To have joy we have to bury the past, forget the former things. Quit dwelling on the past. My friend, we must focus on the now. DREAM FORWARD! GOD CAN RESTORE OUR JOY.
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
JOY COMES WHEN WE FORGIVE AND PRAY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN KIND TO US. HOW CAN WE EXPECT A DOUBLE PORTION OF JOY UNTIL WE LET GO OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE CAUSED US TO BE DEPRESSED?
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
IT IS BETTER TO AIM FOR THE MOON AND HIT THE TREE TOPS THAN TO AIM AT MUD PUDDLES.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU --- JOY AND HOPE CAN BE DOUBLED UP.
Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
TO SUSTAIN US THROUGH DIFFICULT SEASONS WE MUST COME TO GOD’S HOUSE AND DIG DEEP WELLS. MUD PUDDLES DO NOT PROVIDE HEALTHY WATERS. IN SEASONS OF DROUGHT WE NEED JOYS OF LIVING WATER. WE NEED EACH OTHER. GOD’S WORD BRINGS JOY.
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
GOD CAN BRING JOY IN THE MOST DIFFICULT, TRYING TIMES.
Habakkuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour 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: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
YOU CAN FIND JOY IN THE STRANGES PLACES.
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
INWARD JOY CAN STRENGTHEN BOTH BODY AND SPIRIT. JOY CAN BE PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS. JOY AND LAUGHTER HELP PRODUCE DOPAMINE AND MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF STRESS. I HAVE READ JOYFUL HEARTS CAN HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM FIGHT OFF INFECTIONS. JOY CAN HELP THE HEART ACTIVIES. JOY CAN BE BENEFICIAL.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
Proverbs 17:22 (NLT2) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Psalm 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Psalm 30:11 (NIV) You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
CONCLUSION: THE JOY OF THE LORD CAN RENEW YOUR MIND --- JOY ON PURPOSE.
Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
The target of the enemy is to steal the joy out of your family. We must guard our hearts.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
