My "Joy Unequaled"

Years ago, I realized I needed something more in my walk with the Lord. I thought I knew Him intimately, but trials convinced me I didn’t completely trust Him. I knew faith and fear could never work together. But what I sensed—what I felt, saw, and experienced had more power in my life than the truth I thought I knew. I realized I couldn’t walk by faith without knowing the absolute safety of Jesus’s perfect love for me. The only way I would know the breadth, height, length, and depth of His love was to surrender myself to Him. I wanted to know His genuine and palpable presence, so I came to Him, defenseless, vulnerable, and wide open. I began to delve into the Word as I never had before. Paul’s epistles came to life for me. In Philippians 3:7-8, I found his response to Jesus. 

“But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]” (Philippians 3:7-8, AMP).

Paul considered everything he had gained in life as a loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Jesus Christ. The things that once mattered, believed, and drove his life had suddenly become nonsense. Paul discovered that in knowing Jesus, he had received the “supreme advantage” of life and godliness. When the Word began to come to life in me, the world, the opinions of others, and the lies I believed became less valuable compared to the precious privilege of knowing Jesus. Faith began to overcome the sin of fear that controlled my life.

Paul’s words reveal the supreme advantage of knowing Christ. Understanding this advantage emerges when we pursue God as He pursues us. God pursued Paul and finally got his attention on the road to Damascus. When faced with the goodness of God’s love, I have a decision: I either respond or I don’t. In pursuing God, I discover the indescribable gain of knowing Him. I receive His forgiveness, healing, deliverance, provision, and blessing. This pursuit restores and completely satisfies me.

Marriage is an example of what our relationship with the Father should be. Personal, intimate, special, protected, giving, receiving, vulnerable, honest, and committed. Two are no longer two. Two have become one. When I value my marriage highly, I consider it a priceless privilege. I'm familiar with what I need to know about my husband, learn to respond to his likes and dislikes, and anticipate how he will respond in various situations. The same is true of our relationship with God. Knowing God intimately acclimates us to His likes and dislikes. We know how to respond in difficult situations. We hear Him clearly and understand the hidden things unique to our relationship. Two have become one.

When we place unsurpassed value on knowing God, we discover He is the God of abundant life. Ephesians 3:18 reveals this abundance as knowing the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love for you. The more we know God, the more of Him there is to know. The gift of His love is unending and just waiting to be unpacked and known by you.

The world offers nothing lasting. God desires to change our lives with His surpassing love and to establish His Kingdom. But we can never build His Kingdom on our merit and limited understanding. Knowing God fully will not only draw us closer to Him but also draw others too. It is our priceless privilege to know Jesus. As we grow more deeply acquainted with Him, we have the supreme advantage to successfully navigate and overcome in this life.

Peter wrote: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

We have been given everything we need to live a godly life. We discover these things by knowing God intimately.

Paul wrote: “[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]” (Ephesians 1:17, AMP).

I cannot live by my insight. It is death to my faith (Romans 8:6). I desire my Father’s deep and personal insight. His insight is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Lord, grant me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in my relationship with you. As you hunger for me, I want to hunger for you. The former things I thought meant something now mean nothing. The former fears mean nothing. The former life has passed away. I walk by faith and not by sight. You are all I need. Nothing surpasses this priceless privilege of knowing you. You are my "joy unequaled."

What You Consider In Your Heart

What you consider is more than just having a thought. It is taking a thought, meditating on it, and deliberating on how it applies to you. What you consider determines the course and the outcome of your life.

Look at Abraham: “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Romans 4:19).

Abraham chose not to meditate on his advanced age and the “deadness of Sarah’s womb.” He chose not to let himself meditate on these negative things but placed his faith in God’s promise that they would have a child.

Whether we realize it or not, our hearts always meditate on something. The heart is where our choices are made, and our futures are shaped. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
 
No matter the world's difficulties and challenges, we can choose what we will consider in our hearts. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world with no sin and chose to consider Satan's words. What they considered changed human destiny. We now live with the results of their choice. We no longer live in a perfect world. Each one of us must consider issues and make choices. We can consider the darkness of this world and be depressed, or we can consider the goodness of God’s love and be found in faith like Abraham. Our circumstances won’t automatically vanish, but we will grow in our faith to overcome them.
 
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35).
 
We all draw something from our hearts. Some of us bring forth fear, worry, anger, envy, resentment, and lust. Others bring forth love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. No matter if our words come from good or evil within us, they set in motion actions that alter lives and determine futures. You must “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
 
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,” Paul wrote, “meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
 
Mediate on things that are of a good report—honest, uplifting, encouraging, and praiseworthy! Don’t meditate on the “dark” issues in your life! Jesus is the Light. Mediate on Jesus and God’s promises. You may be “old and barren” to this world, but you are “young and fruitful” and full of promise to Jesus.
 
What would your life be like if your mind and heart contemplated pure and lovely things? Can you envision yourself living in a place of God’s peace and faith? If you consider good things in your heart, it is possible to live in love, joy, and peace.
 
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes,” Jesus said (Mark 9:23).
 
The heart is where you believe (Romans 10:9). What are you considering in your heart?

Are You Determined To Finish The Course?

Many Christians say they desire God to use them, but when asked to do something inconvenient, they say, “I didn’t know how hard this was going to be.” If you are going to do something exceptional for God, you have to throw yourself into His call and do what is needed, regardless of whether or not it is convenient.

Doing what God has called us to do should be the standard of our lives. It should be more valuable and significant than any comfort or personal desire. Like Paul, we must be willing to do anything required or go to any length to do what God asks. 

If you are going to do something for God, the enemy is not going to stand silently by. He will play havoc with your comfort level. If God asks you to do something outside your comfort zone, don’t complain about it. When you do, you refuse to exercise your faith. You will not do anything significant for God— at least not until you change your attitude.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

The Kingdom of God suffers violence at the hands of the enemy. You must be more determined than the enemy’s deception, barriers, and accusations. What is the vision God has given you? That vision is not going to come easily. Satan will come against it in any way he can. That vision must be more important than your need to feel safe and secure. You must be willing to do anything needed to see that purpose succeed. When you claim this attitude for your life—when you are determined to pursue God’s purpose at all costs, you will push through hard times and gain ground for the Kingdom of God.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul revealed his determination to finish God’s call, regardless of what he had to do and the challenges he had to overcome. 

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”

Paul said that, in addition to working hard, he had been physically beaten as he pursued his God-given task of spreading the Gospel. He had received “stripes above measure.” The beatings he received were frequent, cruel, and brutal. But Paul never allowed this intense cruelty to affect his commitment to the task God had given him. You must be more determined than anything the devil brings against you. You cannot withstand the devil’s onslaughts in your flesh alone. But with the power of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome them.

Paul said that he has been “in prisons more frequent.” This is what Paul consistently endured. Of course, Paul didn’t desire this, but if going to jail meant that he would accomplish his calling, that was what he was willing to do. He was ready to undergo any inconvenience, pay any price, and go to all lengths to do what God asked of him.

Paul also said that in addition to the beatings and imprisonment he endured, he was “in deaths often.” He was constantly confronted with the possibility of death. Paul never wanted to face death daily. It was just part of his call to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. However, he faced it bravely rather than hiding from danger and kept moving forward to fulfill his purpose.

Had Paul been less committed, only a few of these difficult experiences would have stopped him. But because he was completely focused on finishing the work God had given him, he pushed beyond each beating, imprisonment, and fear of death. And because of his commitment, we received the Gospel. At the end of his life, he could say, “I have finished my course” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

Just as Paul didn’t give up, you don’t have to give up in defeat. If you choose to use the power that is available to you, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and give you victory over any difficulty the enemy uses against you. 

Submit to God, and He will strengthen you to overcome every deception and obstacle. If you embrace God’s power, He will give you everything you need to endure and succeed in the purpose He has given you. Be determined to hold on to God’s call for your life and to move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be willing to give everything.

May I also be faithful as those who have given everything, laboring hard and enduring whatever comes. One day, may I be able to say as Paul, “I have finished my course,” and hear the Lord saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Delighting Yourself In The Lord

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

—Psalm 37:3-4 (NKJV)

 

 

When we trust in the Lord and submit to Him, we have His promise that we will dwell in the land and receive His provision. The land spoken of in Psalm 37:1 was the Jews’ Promised Land. We, who are reborn as the children of God in Jesus Christ, will dwell in the fulfillment of God’s promises to us and receive His provision. We will not only inhabit the life He has for us but will receive it abundantly (John 10:10). 

 

Psalm 37:4 does not promise that when we trust in the Lord, He will give us whatever we desire. However, it does say that when we trust in the Lord, He will place His desires in our hearts. When we delight in the Lord, we trust Him. This is one of the humblest and most important ways to receive guidance and direction from the Lord.

 

The word “delight” was translated from the Hebrew word “anag.” Strong’s Concordance states that it means, “to be soft or pliable.”  To receive guidance from the Lord, our hearts must be “soft and pliable” toward Him.

 

What we “dwell” on—or think about—is what we become sensitive to. If we want to “dwell” in God’s promises, our hearts need to be trusting, listening, pliable, and leaning into Him. If we don’t “dwell” on God, our hearts will become hardened to His guidance and direction. Focusing on the things of God keeps our hearts soft and pliable and able to hear His voice. If our hearts are humble and sensitive toward the Lord, then His desires shall be in our hearts, and what we do shall be what He desires. 

In Psalm 1:2, David said that those whose delight is in the Word of God and who meditate on it day and night shall be blessed. This expresses what David also expressed in Psalm 37:4. When you “delight” yourself in the Word, you meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:8).

Delighting yourself in the Lord and in His Word does not happen spontaneously.  You choose to delight and place your confident trust in the Lord. You commit yourself not to be distracted by what your physical eyes see and your physical ears hear. You focus on God’s Word and not anything else. You believe what He has promised. You place faith in the abundant and life-affirming promises of God revealed to you in Jesus Christ.

Are you looking for God’s promise in your life?  

 

“Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

 

The Life I Now Life

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

—Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

 

 

What an amazing word!  The Holy Spirit not only gives us the ability to walk in His power but also puts the desire within us to do what pleases Him. The Holy Spirit is always drawing us toward God’s will. But it doesn’t just happen. God puts the desire in us, but we must surrender and cooperate with Him.

 

When we believed in Christ, we were spiritually reborn and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). God imparted the complete and finished work of Jesus into our born-again spirits, and we became new creatures in Christ. The same power of God that raised Christ from the dead came to live within us (Romans 8:11). But we have to allow what we have received in Christ to change our understanding—the way we think (Romans 12:2). Jesus has done His part. It is up to us to believe and appropriate what Christ has given us by grace. Our minds and bodies must yield to the righteous nature of God that we have received. 

                                                                                                 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12, NKJV).

 

Salvation is the gift of God that can only be received by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Holy Spirit stirs within us the desire to take our salvation to its greatest potential—that is, to be more like Christ. Philippians 2:13 reveals there is a divine power that motivates us and is able to achieve God’s purpose within us. This calls for our response— to work out our salvation. We don’t work to be saved, and we don't work to keep our salvation. We work—we diligently persevere to understand what we have received in Christ. When we cease from trusting in ourselves and instead trust the power of God at work within us, we work out our salvation. 

 

Surrendering to God is allowing Him to work in us. Cooperating with God is allowing Him to teach us the knowledge and wisdom of His Word. We have to allow God’s Word to take root in our hearts until we believe it. That is when God’s Word changes our attitudes and makes a difference in how we live. Often, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling because it challenges our human reasoning and understanding. When we work out our salvation, we are challenged to believe what is true in God’s realm and what can only be perceived spiritually. Working out our salvation inspires us to reach out in faith and take hold of the new person that we are now in Christ. 

 

Surrender your reasoning and preconceptions to God. Open your spiritual mind to receive the Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you (1 Corinthians 2:14, John 14:16). Allow Him to reveal the truths of the new creation you are in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

 

When you cooperate with the Holy Spirit and continually renew your mind with God’s Word, you begin to conform to God’s image of you (Romans 12:2). You become more like Christ, and your desire to please Him intensifies. Just as you were saved by faith, you must also choose to live by faith. When you live by His faith, you receive His mighty power to live what pleases Him. As you conform to the revelation of God’s Word, offense, anger, hurt, rejection, fear, worry, and the temptations of the flesh are crucified with Christ. Where sin abounds, His grace is more. Christ in you accomplishes what you alone can never accomplish.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV).

Jesus, I am crucified with you. Help me to believe this Word, and to live by your faith. 

Are You God's Laborer?

People are born again through the power of the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). Our prayers for others are essential, but they aren't a substitute for the message of the Gospel heard in the human heart (Romans 1:16-17).  

Many of us pray to God for others to be saved and can’t understand why it hasn’t happened. We don’t have to ask the Lord to save people. He doesn’t wish for anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). That is why He has already made provision for everyone’s salvation (John 3:16, John 1:22). The freedom to choose or reject Him is a gift He has given us. He won’t go against anyone’s will. 

Since everyone decides for themselves about Jesus, how do we pray for our loved ones to come to the Lord?  Jesus said to pray that the Lord would send laborers across their paths. They need to hear the Word (Romans 10:14-17). We should also bind Satan’s purpose to blind them to spiritual truth (2 Corinthians 4:4).

God is more determined to save our loved ones than we are. We don’t need to plead with Him; rather, we need Him to flow through us to reach those who don’t know Him. We do that by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and praying that other Christians will come across the paths of our loved ones and do the same.

The Gospel is God’s victorious power that is available to everyone who believes. It’s the Good News that although we are sinners and worthy of His anger, God, in His love, sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve, so that we could become righteous in His sight. If a person needs healing, it’s in the Gospel. If deliverance is needed, it’s in the Gospel. Provision, answered prayer, joy, peace, and love are found through understanding and believing the Gospel. Our salvation is based only on our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and not on our performance. Now that's Good News to share with a hurting and dying world.

Yes, you want those you love to know Him. Perhaps, they have closed their hearts to the message coming from you. Pray in faith for God to send laborers with the Gospel. Pray your loved ones will be receptive. Pray God will send those whom He knows will hear Him, follow His leading, and share His message in a way that will reach their hearts. Don’t doubt. If you know God hears your prayers, you can rest assured He sends laborers across their paths. It’s God’s will for everyone to know Him. God will do all that He can so no person will perish. 

Are you praying for laborers to come into the lives of those you love? Well, you are also a laborer. You, my brother or sister, are the answer to someone else's prayer for those they love. Be Jesus in the lives of everyone who comes across your path.

Learn Who You Are In Christ

It is sad to be free and not know it. It makes little sense to live in defeat when you have received victory. But how many Christians live in bondage and defeat, longing for what Jesus has already done for them? Until we allow the miracle of His grace to transform our minds and hearts, His freedom and victory will be what we try to manufacture. Peace will be circumstantial. Fear will arise without warning. Our masks will try to hide the turmoil. This turmoil is not what Jesus died to give us. Until we allow the Holy Spirit to change our understanding and perception of who we are in Christ, we will not live in the freedom and victory Jesus purchased with the gift of His life.

You don't have to fear. Life doesn't have to throw you. You can believe in the impossible. You can trust God for what you can't see. You can rest in His perfect peace. When that mask slips out of place, then not only are you more open with others, but most importantly, you are more open to the Holy Spirit to receive His healing grace. You start to experience His victory and His freedom. You believe He tears down the walls in your life. You believe He heals you.

Are you tired of the roller coaster of your emotions? You no longer have to hold your breath waiting for what might happen next. His grace sets you free from needing to know. It inspires greater faith to believe that you have received everything you need from God’s unending supply. God is your healer. He is your provider. He is your restorer and your victory.

“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2, NLT). 

If you are tired of living in defeat when Jesus has given you victory, grow in your knowledge of God and the new life Jesus has given you. The Word is the only way you will grow. It is the only way to renew your mind and increase your faith. The Word grounds you in the undeniable and absolute truth of God’s Word. It frees you from bitterness, jealousy, worry, fear, lust, rebellion, and every sin that steals, kills, and destroys your life. The Word heals and restores you in spirit, soul, and body to God’s design. As you come into agreement with the Word—as you believe it deep within your heart, you receive more grace and peace.

“I pray that God, the source of hope,” Paul wrote, “will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NLT).

God is the source of hope, and He fills you completely, not partially, with joy and peace. Out of His fullness, you have received, grace upon grace (John 1:16). If you are not drawing from this fullness, you are drowning in your own weakness. Trusting God is drawing upon what is yours in Christ. When you trust Him, you overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. If you want to live with confident hope, ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you through His Word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

God has called you through his marvelous glory and excellence. By receiving Jesus Christ into your life, you have received everything from God that you need to live a godly life. You have received His promises of peace, joy, confident hope, and faith, which enable you to share in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).  

You are not the old person you were before you believed in Jesus. That person is dead. You are new! Learn who you are!