Search Menu Toggle navigation
Living By Faith
Search Menu Toggle navigation

JOY NEUTRALIZES PRESSURE

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.

 (Acts16:25)

If you allow pressure to push you out of position, you’ll miss your miracle.

Mark Hankins

The Apostle Paul had the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Romans putting pressure on him. During one of the most difficult hours of his life, he began singing praises to God.

The devil can put pressure on you and get you into a corner, but as long as he can’t shut your mouth, you can overcome. Oral Roberts said,“Everyday there’s a miracle coming to you or passing you by.”  That means if you allow pressure to push you out of your position, you’ll miss your miracle.

When you start counting it all joy, it neutralizes the pressure. That is a challenge, but rejoicing is a choice you make that will strengthen you so that your faith and patience will hold you steady. “Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow and don’t try to squirm out of your problems.” (James 1:2-4 TLB)

Confession:When my patience is in full bloom, I will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. (James 1:4  TLB)

  • 0

MAXIMUM JOY

Consider it maximum joy, my brothers, when you get involved in all sorts of trials. (James 1:2  Berkeley)

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because God’s got a blessing for you!

Mark Hankins

I played on the championship football team in high school. We were undefeated, so we always went out fully expecting to win. One day the coach told me, “Now Hankins,” as he grabbed me by my shoulder pads, “you might be able to go around the tackle, but by the time you go around him, what you’re looking for already went by.”

Then he said, “The only way you can play defense is not to avoid the pressure the tackle is putting on you. You can’t go around him–if you do, you will miss what you’re after. You’ve got to fight through the pressure.”

The reason the devil is putting pressure on you is because God’s got a blessing coming for you! So when pressure comes from every side, face it and get happy right in the middle of it! The devil is saying, “Hey, give up and just go around.” You say, “No. I am not going around. I am going through this tackle!”

Confession: The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet ,and he will make me walk upon my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19)

  • 0

THE SECRET POWER OF JOY

Even now you are happy with the in expressible joy that comes from heaven itself. (1 Peter 1:8 TLB)

Rejoicing is an act of faith.

Mark Hankins

One day, the Lord spoke to me very clearly and said, “If you only knew what happens in the spirit when you rejoice, you would rejoice every day.” When we rejoice, we are acting like sons and daughters of God!

Rejoicing is an act of faith. Remember the words of Paul in Acts 27:25, “Cheer up…I believe God that it shall be as He told me.”  When we believe God, we can cheer up!  Believing and rejoicing ushers in the glory and goodness of God in our lives.

Rejoicing enables us to make progress in difficult times. Joy is the secret of faith and endurance. James 1:2 says to count it all joy when trouble comes. This must be why Job laughed at destruction and trouble. (Job 5:22) Of course some people may think you are a fool, but if you have found joy, you have found the secret of survival and success.

Confession: Even now I am happy with the in expressible joy that comes from heaven itself! The joy of the Lord is my strength. Just like Job, I laugh at destruction and trouble because I know that joy is the secret of faith and endurance. Ha! Ha! Ha!

  • 0

RECEIVING THE END OF YOUR FAITH

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1Peter1:9)

Your faith has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Mark Hankins

Joy unspeakable is the bridge from believing to receiving. Many people never receive their miracle because they never get happy enough to believe.  Your attitude should be, “I have it right now; it’s mine.”

Your faith has a beginning, middle, and an end. In the middle of a faith fight, you have to tell the devil how it is going to turn out. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Your situation may look bad right now, but everything is going to turn out all right!

So how do you demonstrate this supernatural joy? You demonstrate it by rejoicing, smiling, and laughing. I believe joy irritates the devil. He hangs out in places of depression, grief, and sorrow. But where there is joy, the presence and glory of God will come in and run the devil off!

Confession: I believe I have my miracle. I have it right now; it’s mine. I have joy unspeakable and full of glory! I am running the devil off right now!

  • 3

SUPERNATURAL JOY

Happy is the people that know well the shout of praise, that lives, Lord, in the smile of thy protection! (Psalm 89:15  Knox)

The Holy Ghost is not just interested in the miracle; He’s interested in you receiving strength!

Mark Hankins

When the Word hits your spirit, there can be conception; then you can give birth to your miracle. In Genesis 18, when the Lord told Abraham and Sarah that she would have a son, she first laughed in unbelief. At some point, however, she must have started laughing in faith. She must have said, “I’m not the performer; I’m just the believer.” Sarah and Abraham then named their miracle, “Ha ,ha.”

They named him “Isaac,” which means “laughter.”

The people that know the joyful sound are the ones who get into the presence of God and walk in the light of His countenance. This joy is not dependent on how much money you have in the bank or who likes you; it is supernatural. It comes from heaven. It comes from God. God has this joy in Him and as believers; the same joy is in us!

Confession: I laugh in faith because I realize that I’m not the performer, I’m just the believer. The joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

  • 1

Sign up for Living By Faith Blog Subscribers

* = required field

Recent Posts

Categories