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JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

God always has an escape route and is faithful to bring us out. Mark Hankins

I’m glad that the Lord said in Psalm 34:19 that He would deliver us out of all of our afflictions. He did not say half of them or most of them, He said, “out of them all.”  God always makes a way out.

The word afflictions means adversity, distress, tribulation ,persecution, depression, misery, trouble, and pressure. God never guarantees us that we will be exempt from adversity. However, He does guarantee always to bring us out.

Joy cometh in the morning. It may seem like a long night, but the night cannot last forever. The sun is coming up on a new day. The Sun of Righteousness is rising with healing in His wings (beams), and you shall go forth and grow up as calves released from the stall. (Malachi 4:2) As sure as the sun comes up every morning, your deliverance is on the way. The earth is constantly turning on its axis. Even though you may not feel like it, your situation is turning right now. It may seem dark now, but something is happening.  Things are turning, the morning is certain, and the sun is rising!

Confession: Joy cometh! Healing cometh! Blessing cometh! Money cometh! Faith cometh!

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GOD IS RESTORING YOUR JOY

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

If you will refuse to give up and allow your faith to be on trial, you cannot lose! Mark Hankins

At 75 years of age, Norman Vincent Peal was asked when were the best ten years of his life. He replied, “I haven’t lived them yet!”

Shake off the dust of the past. God will restore the years that the devil tried to mess up in your life. Don’t look back with regret. What the devil meant for evil, God is turning around for your good.

God’s going to do His part, but you have to do your part — you have to rejoice! God has some surprises that are exceeding abundantly above all you could ask or think according to the power that works in you. (Ephesians 3:20)

Confession: God is faithful. He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to endure. He will always make away to escape! “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

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JOY NEUTRALIZES PRESSURE

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. (Acts 16:25)

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,“Everydaythere’sa miraclecomingtoyouorpassingyouby.”  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)

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JOY’S MULTIFACETED CONNECTION

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. (Psalm 68:3)

Joy and rejoicing are simply a choice that we make daily. Mark Hankins

Look at all of the blessings of God that are connected to joy.  Joy is connected to:  

  • God’s presence (Psalm 16:11)
  • God’s strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
  • God’s salvation (Isaiah 12:3)
  • The anointing – the oil of joy (Hebrews 1:9)
  • God’s medicine (Proverbs 17:22)
  • God’s Word (Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 119:162)
  • Prosperity (2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 105:37-45)

It seems that if Satan can steal our joy, then he can damage a lot of other things in our lives.

It is clear that God did not create us to be miserable. He created us in Christ to enjoy life and to have dominion. Joy is one of the great secrets of faith. One of my favorite pictures of Jesus is the one of Him laughing triumphantly. Jesus sits in the heavens and laughs. (Psalm 2:4) Make the choice to rejoice!

Confession: I rejoice with exceeding great joy because I know that I am blessed.  God created me to enjoy my life and have dominion. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice! (Psalm 63:7)

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REJOICING: A FORM OF HUMILITY

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)

Rejoicing is a form of humility. Mark Hankins

In 2 Samuel 6, the Ark of the Covenant was coming into Jerusalem. The Bible says when the ark came into the city King David danced before the Lord with all of his might. The scripture says he threw off his royal robe and danced in his under clothes because of the glory that was coming back! David loved to be in the presence of God!

After he had danced before the Lord, David fed the entire nation. When he went to bless his household, his wife told him that he looked like a fool. She despised him in her heart because of his response to the presence of God. David responded to her by saying, “I will yet be more vile than this. I will humble myself in the sight of the people, and I will lower myself in my own sight.” (2 Samuel 6:22)

David’s rejoicing was a form of humility. If you are more concerned with what people think about you than what God thinks about you, you will never walk in victory. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!

Confession: I will rejoice in the Lord and humble myself before Him because He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

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