Replace fear and worry with joy and happiness through faith in Jesus!

4/14/2020

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NKJV

Jesus wants our hearts to be filled with joy. Is that even possible? Does God want us to be happy on our journey through life? Is that possible?

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

I have always heard joy and happiness are not the same. We can choose joy regardless of circumstances. Happiness is subject to circumstances, feelings and emotions.

Paul addresses a dispute between believers. He calls them to be of one mind and stand fast in the Lord. Paul encourages other believers to help them. He tells them to rejoice and let their gentleness be known to all people because Jesus is at hand!

Paul says the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard their hearts and minds. He tells them to replace worry and anxiousness with prayer in every situation and circumstance. He tells them to pray with thanksgiving, why?

The Philippians had direct access to the throne of God! The same power that raised Jesus from the grave filled their hearts and minds with peace!

A Pastor at church said joy and happiness are the same. God wants us to be happy. The bible does not make a distinction between joy and happiness. Neither does the dictionary. They are synonymous!

My wife and I have experienced our share of trials and troubles. We are surrounded by hardships today. They do not prevent us from being joyful. We chose to be joyful. We are happy regardless of our circumstances!

I no longer believe I can choose joy but must accept that I may not be happy! We can choose to be happy the same way we choose joy, by faith!

The world is filled with sin, shame and violence. We are in the grip of a global pandemic. Millions of people have lost their jobs. What do we have to be joyful about? How can we be happy in a world spiraling farther and farther into the abyss of hopelessness?

Jesus is not in heaven wondering what to do about the pandemic! He is not trying to figure out how to get us through the valley of the shadow of death! Jesus is at the right hand of the Father right now! Our Savior is with all who live by faith in Jesus today!

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds if we replace fear and anxiousness with prayer and thanksgiving. What do we have to be thankful for? We have access to the throne of Almighty God!

Jesus Christ died on a cross two thousand years ago to give us the freedom of choice! Rejoice in the Lord! Choose to be joyful and happy in every circumstance and situation!

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Louie Garcia

Joyfor2day daily devotional goes out over the internet to thousands of people all over the world five days a week

Jesus can use you to shake the foundations of the prison and set people free!

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:16-18 NKJV

The slave girl was speaking the truth. She was possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit was drawing people away from Christ!

This attack came as God’s servants went to prayer. The enemy of our souls attacks when we step out in faith. Satan seeks to distract us. He wants us to focus our attention on things other than Jesus.

The devil perverts the truth. He uses it against us. No one can serve two masters. This girl was speaking the truth about Paul and his companions while practicing witchcraft. When people claim to speak for God we must consider how they live.

The girl followed the disciples for several days before they cast the demon out of her. It is important for us to wait on the Lord before stepping out in faith. The bible tells us Paul was greatly annoyed by this girl. Paul was not fearful. The Lord was with Him!

Paul and Silas were put in jail. The owners of the slave girl were angry at the loss of income when the demon was cast out of her. While Paul and Silas were in jail they shared the gospel with the jailer. His entire household was saved.

God uses Satan’s attacks for His glory and our salvation!

Satan is a real being. He takes people captive to do his will. There really are demons who seek to destroy God’s people and bring destruction to our world.

We have nothing to fear from the devil or his demons when we live according to God’s will. We have nothing to fear from anyone or anything when we step out in faith to serve Jesus!

Jesus wants us to fear Him and Him alone. He wants us to know His power and authority are unequaled in all of creation.

God wants you share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people in your life. Jesus wants you to walk in great boldness because He is with you everywhere you go!

Jesus can use you to shake the foundations of the prison and set people free!

Replace fear and worry with joy and happiness through faith in Jesus!

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Louie Garcia

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