Finding Joy
Romans 12:12 NKJV
“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”
The spirit of believers ought to be joyful because they are hopeful. To believers hope is not wishful thinking. Hope to Christians is a confident expectation. “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:24-25 NKJV).
The ability to wait patiently, to persevere, to rejoice in good times and in bad, comes from trusting God. There is joy in trusting God because He is faithful. All that God has promised you will come to pass, because He is faithful and all that He says is true. Therefore, when you have a trustful hope in God, you can rejoice because you can be confident that He will protect and help you and He will free you from fear and anxiety.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV).
There is a peace that passes all understanding that floods your soul when you trust in God that is when you commit it all to God. It is a kind of peace that goes beyond peace in the world. It is a kind of peace that goes beyond knowing that your sins are forgiven. And it is a kind of peace that goes beyond tranquility. This peace which transcends all understanding fills your heart and soul at times when you need it most. It is a most wonderful feeling. It gives you joy. And it gives you a hope for a new day.
This is the reason why we can be faithful in prayer. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18 NKJV). When we rejoice always we can pray continually. That is we can be a man or woman of prayer, having a continuous attitude of devotion towards God, a God-consciousness and God-surrender in all that we do.
My friends, when we remain in Christ Jesus, when our thoughts are on Jesus, when our eyes are upon Jesus, and when our hearts are turned towards Jesus then joy and hope and patience will result in faithful prayer. Then the peace that transcends all understanding will calm our souls.
The chorus of this old hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Lemmel sums it all up nicely: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the Light of His glory and grace.”
Hold on to these truths my friends for it will strengthen your faith till the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”
The spirit of believers ought to be joyful because they are hopeful. To believers hope is not wishful thinking. Hope to Christians is a confident expectation. “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:24-25 NKJV).
The ability to wait patiently, to persevere, to rejoice in good times and in bad, comes from trusting God. There is joy in trusting God because He is faithful. All that God has promised you will come to pass, because He is faithful and all that He says is true. Therefore, when you have a trustful hope in God, you can rejoice because you can be confident that He will protect and help you and He will free you from fear and anxiety.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV).
There is a peace that passes all understanding that floods your soul when you trust in God that is when you commit it all to God. It is a kind of peace that goes beyond peace in the world. It is a kind of peace that goes beyond knowing that your sins are forgiven. And it is a kind of peace that goes beyond tranquility. This peace which transcends all understanding fills your heart and soul at times when you need it most. It is a most wonderful feeling. It gives you joy. And it gives you a hope for a new day.
This is the reason why we can be faithful in prayer. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18 NKJV). When we rejoice always we can pray continually. That is we can be a man or woman of prayer, having a continuous attitude of devotion towards God, a God-consciousness and God-surrender in all that we do.
My friends, when we remain in Christ Jesus, when our thoughts are on Jesus, when our eyes are upon Jesus, and when our hearts are turned towards Jesus then joy and hope and patience will result in faithful prayer. Then the peace that transcends all understanding will calm our souls.
The chorus of this old hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen Lemmel sums it all up nicely: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the Light of His glory and grace.”
Hold on to these truths my friends for it will strengthen your faith till the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
