Do not lose your JOY

The devil will use your loved ones, friends, believers, unbelievers, and your circumstances to steal your joy in the Lord. Once he steals your joy, it can become a downward spiral. A few years ago, when my wife and I would get into a fight, the Lord reminded us not to lose our joy. Many serve the Lord but they may have lost their joy as we can see it in their faces. Scripture says the Joy of the Lord is our STRENGTH and STRONGHOLD!!

Nehemiah 8:10 Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

If the devil steals your joy, how will you LOVE? If the devil steals your joy, he would have planted his seed the opposite of joy. It would be prudent that we repent and return to His FULL Presence.

John 10:10 (AMP)¹⁰The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ^[a]overflows).

Paul said that he found the secret to be content whether in lack or abundance. This is not only in the physical but in our emotions as well. Whether our situation is in peace or chaos, we must be consistence with our spirit so that we are only focused on the Lord and since He is our source of LIFE we can still be in JOY because we are in HIM and not our surroundings. 

Philippians 4:12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

It is easier said than done of course. God helps us to practice by allowing such difficult circumstances to come upon us. Is it PAINFUL? Yes, it is most PAINFUL. When difficult circumstances arise out of our situations or people, we try to be like Christ and not in the flesh. When we submit our will and flesh to be put down, it is very painful. It is painful because our will and flesh are dying. Death is a painful process but remember brethren, the process of death and dying in Christ MUST BE COMPLETED. What if Jesus had changed His mind because it was too painful and He opted out before the cross? He went knowing He would DIE. We must finish our tests and trials knowing we must go ALL THE WAY EVEN TO DEATH. We are called to be martyred if necessary. 

When the Lord brought me back from a rebellious back slidden life, my flesh was still much alive. As I began my journey back on the narrow road, I would still easily get angry at my wife and we would still easily get into a fight. When we had gotten into a fight, the Lord reminded us to repent and press forward. We in the flesh always want to take it up to the Lord in regards to who's at fault. But that is trivial to God, it does not matter who's at fault, we are ALL AT FAULT. His Will is that we repent and press forward. He has a plan and He needs our cooperation and obedience. The devil has a plan as well. The devil wants us to quit and lose our joy. Once your complete joy is gone, then he comes to kill and destroy you. The devil has then taken your life through your own choice because he would have taken you away from the Lord who is LIFE. It is a CHOICE to become depressed or stay in JOY.

The devil threw his best at my family. The devil had thrown all his big guns at my wife and I. The preordained plan and work God had for our family before the foundation of the world was at stake and it became very close of being dismantled. Whether we cooperate and obey God or not, God's overall plan will still come to pass. If we do not step up into our calling, He will raise another. If God has to wait another generation, He will do so for He will be Glorified. 

I remember a short story a brother told me. It goes like this. A certain pastor had just finished all he needed to become a pastor. As he walked up the altar to preach, he was very happy and proud of that day. As his head was getting a little too big, the Lord told him something. The Lord said that he was there because five others had not answered the call. A proud day had become a day of humility.

We must remember, our God is HOLY and He is GOD! It is NOT about us! IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM AND WHETHER WE COOPERATE OR NOT, HE WILL BE MAGNIFIED AND GLORIFIED. HIS WORD WILL COME TO PASS WITH US OR WITHOUT US AND IF HE HAS TO WAIT ANOTHER GENERATION OR MORE, HE OWNS TIME AND HE CAN WAIT. 

Therefore brethren, humble thyself and know it is not about us but HIM. I know it is hard at times but DO NOT LOSE YOUR JOY FOR IT IS YOUR STRENGTH AND STRONGHOLD. Persevere and endure, I promise you it will get better. The storms of life may not decrease but it will get better because we will become numb to the pain as our skins become thickened. We will grieve with you. We will cry with you. We will REJOICE with you in Victory. We are with you in spirit. Hold on and do not give ground back to the enemy.

Even Jesus said if possible let the cup pass but HE said NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS FATHER. THEREFORE, LET US PICK THE CROSS BACK UP AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT BRETHREN. DO NOT LOOK BACK. HE IS COMING SOON.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust,^[a]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). ¹³[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while ^[b]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and^[c]delight.

FIRE OF GOD!!

Steve Yong Kim