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WEEK 47 – HOW TO FIND JOY IN ANY SITUATION

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WEEK 47 – HOW TO FIND JOY IN ANY SITUATION

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WEEK 47 – “How To Find JOY In Any Situation”

It is so hard sometimes to have JOY. Even as a Christian, yes, I said it.

Sometimes we feel like we should just be joyful all the time, but honestly, sometimes it really is hard.

And this coming from a person who is basically eternally optimistic, always in a good mood, super joyful, really easy for me to have joy & really hard for me to be discouraged.

I realize that some people have a harder time with discouragement, but I’m just saying that even for me, it’s important for us to realize that, yes, it IS really hard sometimes.

HOWEVER.

We DO have something as Christians that we can cling to in the midst of those harder than usual times, in the struggle times, the harder days, whatever it might be.

Whenever you find yourself in the middle of discouragement THE ONE THING THAT IS STURDY ENOUGH TO CLING TO, PULL US OUT OF THE MUD, & RESURGE TRUE JOY, even from the lowest moments, is to remember that Christ suffered & died for you.

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

He died and rose again, for you. He was tortured. He literally went through terrible, awful, never be able to fully understand or describe it, pain & torture, for you and me.

He took our place. He took our sin. He took our battles. He took our sentence. He took our separation. He took our curse. He took our discouragement. He took our detriment.

He took everything that defeats and discourages you, he endured torture and the death penalty, for you, for me. And He overcame it, beat death, beat defeat, beat discouragement, beat separation from God, beat sin, and He made Salvation & Joy & Peace & Connection with God the Father POSSIBLE AGAIN!

Nothing can compare to that you guys!

Jesus even said it Himself.

Some of the disciples were so ecstatic that the demons fled and obeyed them. But what did Jesus say?

LUKE 10:20 –

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

He gave them HIS reason for having Joy.

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

He was saying, “here it is you guys. Here’s the one thing you can cling to that can & will give you joy above anything else.”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

Jesus came to Earth for me, endured torture for me, died for me, rose again for me, made a way for me to be made new & right with God, and since I have put my trust in Him, given my life to Him, now & forever, NOW MY NAME IS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.

MY NAME! ME. My name is written in the Lamb’s Book Of Life.

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

THAT is it right there baby!

Nothing else can compare to that.

It’s God’s grace. It’s God’s forgiveness. My place in Heaven, won by Jesus. He’s got me.

I’m written there. I’m His. Nothing else can erase me from His book. It is Finished. I am His.

And when you remind yourself of that, when you turn your mind & attention to THAT… JOY my friends.

IMMEDIATE JOY. Immediate grace. Immediate thankfulness. Immediate gratitude.

That’s what Jesus told the disciples for where to find joy. And that’s where we can find JOY.

YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE.

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

Now this is only if you’ve given Him your life. Not everyone’s name is written there. He writes your name in His book once you put your faith & life in His hands & start following Him & letting Him be Lord & savior of your life & making you new.

But if you’ve given Him your life, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER.

THIS is where you need to turn.

So don’t take forever to get there.

Live there.

Keep it as a constant reminder.

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

“MY NAME’S IN HIS BOOK, & THAT GIVES ME JOY!”

Let’s chat about CLINGING TO JOY in this video, and finally start walking in the JOY & PEACE Jesus has for us & that represents Him.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF (or your groups)

1. What are some of the things in your life SPECIFICALLY that come against your JOY?
   
2. What is your biggest struggle area when it comes to JOY?
   
3. Have you ever experienced the JOY of the LORD come over you in a circumstance where you would normally not be JOYful? What was that like?
   
4. What does thinking about your salvation in Christ do for your JOY level?

SCRIPTURE

Luke 20:10

WEEKLY FOCUS

This week, read through these Scriptures each morning.

Think about this idea of JOY coming when we think about salvation.

Ask God if there are any areas you need to surrender or change in order to live with SALVATION JOY.

Let this theme guide your God time all week, and even your thoughts and conversation with Him through out your days, all week long.

Let Him speak to you about this idea of JOY because of Salvation, and see what He says.

We’d love to hear your feedback, so hop into the devos conversation thread in SLACK & we’re excited to see what the Lord speaks to you this week.

BLESSINGS!

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