Did You Say Your Joy's Been Stolen?

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks. This is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thes. 5:16-18. 

The will of God is a lifestyle, not a location. The Apostle Paul has defined it in these three compelling little verses.

If it seems your joy's been stolen, if you need wisdom, if you feel unloving or unlovable, if peace has been choked out and you're in the grip of worry, doubt, or confusion, practice the will of God in the way Paul has spelled it out. 

Three little tips for doing this, from our Pastor Skip:

1. Celebrate God's Favor

If you are in Christ, God is always for you, and everything He has is for you. Remember the times you've watched his favor in action.

2. Celebrate God's Revelation

Meditate on the life-changing things, deeply personal things, and grippingly motivating things He has shown you -- about Himself, about you, and about life.

3. Celebrate God's Victory

Resurrection can only come after death. Think about the places in you where Christ has brought new life. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave himself for us. 

And . . . keep asking to receive more favor, increased revelation, and greater victory. It's all yours in Christ. Pray into it. Live into it!

 Joy is a divine inner quality of life that lives above circumstances; it comes from above and bubbles up from within. It's a fruit of the Spirit that has to be cultivated, by feeding it with the will of God. Feel like yours has been stolen? Take it back -- it's do-able!

Godsense

Pick up all the stuff of your life: all your belongings, your projects, your home, your job, your spouse and children, all your relationships, your hopes, dreams, failures and fears. That’s right – get it all together in a huge pile. Drop it at the Lord’s feet. Then sit down - relax - collapse - be relieved of all the burdens. And say, “Lord, make sense out of all my nonsense.”

“But when Jesus was alone with his disciples, he explained everything.” - Mark 4:34

“When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.” - The Message

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

If you will trust him, lean all of your weight on him, God will order your steps. He will untangle every knot. He will make real sense out of all the nonsense. 

Hiding Place

Day 130
Have you found your hiding place? Do you know that no matter where in the world you find yourself, no matter what the climate is around you or what manner of people and circumstances surround you, night or day, your hiding place is intact, and I will always meet you there. You need to meet with Me there often, because everything else you meet with (even in your sleep) drains the life out of you. I am the only One who replenishes life within you. All through the day, you're giving life away, or people are taking life energy from you. It has to be replenished, or you will be overcome and eventually your life will be snuffed out.

Run to the hiding place and be refueled -- over and over and over again. Drink and be drenched in my eternal wellspring of life, or you will have nothing to give to those who are in need. When you are full of my life, empty people can find a connection with Me through you, and you can introduce them to their hiding place in Me.

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. -- 1 Kings 17:2-6

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. -- 1 Kings 19:11-12

As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. -- Exodus 33:9-11