Joy

Jesus came down for one purpose and one assignment: to redeem mankind. When He was buried in the tomb over 2,000 years ago, He had your name written on the palm of His hand. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb, and He had already chosen you. I can’t tell you that I understand it all, but I can tell you that I’m glad about it!

When Jesus was on the Earth, scripture tells us that for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross. He didn’t focus on what He was going through. He didn’t focus on the accusations, beatings and betrayal; He focused on you and me. He focused on the joy of our salvation! Jesus was thrilled that He got to come to us, and we should be thrilled that we now get to go to Him.

See, joy is a spiritual force. It can only be obtained by knowing the Father. Joy isn’t something you get when things are going good. It’s something that keeps you stable no matter what is going on around you. Jesus tapped into joy to through the cross, and He’s telling us that we need to tap into joy to through the trials and tests that we face as well.

Today, open your heart and receive the joy God has for you. Focus on the fact that He’s got you in the palm of His hand. Trust that He is working all things out for your good. Dwell on the truth that if God is on your side, there’s no enemy that can stand against you!

As you meditate on these things and the other promises found in His Word, faith will come. Hope will come. It will be easier for you to cast your cares on Him because you trust Him. Before you know it, you’ll feel that supernatural joy welling up in your heart and giving you strength! You’ll have an attitude that says, “I don’t know why I’m in this difficult situation; I don’t know what’s going to happen, I just have faith! I don’t why, but I just believe God’s going to get me out of this!” Other people will wonder why you have a smile on your face and a spring in your step, but you’ll know it’s because His joy is giving you the strength you need to push past the challenges and grab hold of the victory that God has in store for you!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Written By Victoria Osteen