The Secret to Joy – Dec 28

(There was a word given about worshiping from our hearts, not from our lips only.) Philippians 4:4 tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. You can always praise God. Paul and Silas ministered to the other prisoners (Acts 16:23-27). The earthquake opened all the doors and loosed all the chains, but no one fled. The prisoners stayed because they were being ministered to. Paul knew what the will of God was, because God had given him a vision (Acts 16:9-10). You need to know what is the will of God for yourself. Sometimes we get ourselves into fixes because we do not obey. Ephesians 5:17 tells us to know what the will of God is.  God knew us long before we were formed in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:15-16). There is a plan for your life, and it is for you to walk out, and then you will have joy. Trust God that He has your best interest in mind. There is a plan for your life and following it will bring you joy. He gives you the grace to perform His will for you. Know, follow, and fulfill God’s plan for your life. Paul cast out the demon in a girl used by divination, and the forces of hell came out after him. If you cannot follow Him when He gives you something small, He will not trust you with anything larger. Be faithful with little. Romans 12:1-2 is how you can know God’s plan for your life. We need to change our thinking by the Word of God. It is a process. You are responsible for changing your own thinking. It takes effort on your part. Preparation time is not wasted time. Get a vision on something bigger than yourself. We can be selfish. Find someone else who has a problem bigger than you, and it will set you free. Paul’s vision was to minister to others in jail. It was a vision bigger than himself (Philippians 1:3, 4). He was chained in his body but not in his spirit. Do not get impatient.