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THE TURNING POINT

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. (Psalm 30:11)

Unspeakable joy is a container of the glory of God!
Mark Hankins

You are at a turning point. It may seem difficult, but things are turning around for you. God is turning your depression into a celebration. It is time to change clothes. It is time to dance and rejoice. God wants to dress you up in joy. Put on your shouting clothes!

God has appointed this deliverance for you. You have a destined date with the blessing of the Lord. What seemed to be burned and ruined, God is turning into something beautiful. He is anointing you with joy. The anointing breaks every yoke, lifts every burden, and makes us laugh at the enemy. Count it all joy. God has given you a garment of praise. There is great deliverance in the garment of praise. Put it on right now. Keep it on. Thank you, Jesus! He never fails to plan the best things for us.

Confession: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3)

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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 a way 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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FAITH UNDER TRIAL

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. (James 1:2 AMP)

God is interested in your character and your whole person, not just your immediate comfort.
Mark Hankins

I was watching a documentary on how people make pottery. Pottery is baked in extreme heat to make it durable and hard, so it is usable. I thought it was interesting that they know a pot is done by the sound it makes. Many times trouble will hit you and get you into serious oven situations. If you stay silent while in the oven, then you are going to be in the oven a long time. But if you will just go ahead and shout for joy, you will make it through!

God wants you to hold steady and stop squirming out of your problems and difficulties prematurely. The natural human tendency is to try to find a way to get out from under the pressure. You have to realize that your faith is on trial, and the devil is trying to knock that faith right out of you. Mix patience with your faith and it will take you through the pressure. Let God build character in you and make you strong enough to receive blessings that you may not have been able to receive before.

Confession: I refuse to give up! I am going to allow my faith to be on trial, and I will not lose!

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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, “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)

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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)

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