Are you depending on your Circumstances?
BIBLE MEDITATION
"Then he said to them, 'Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send
portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our
Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'" (Nehemiah
8:10). "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians
4:4).
(Nehemiah 8:10 and Philippians 4:4)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
Where does your joy come from? Your job? Your health? Your friends? I hope
it comes from the Lord, not circumstances. If you depend on circumstances,
you can't say "rejoice always," because your circumstances could change. You
might lose your job, health, friends, prestige. If you're getting your joy
from your job, we can find out if we take your job and see if you still have
your joy. Maybe you're getting your joy from your health. You say, "No, it's
from the Lord." If your health fails, see if you still have your joy. The
only secure joy anyone can have is in the Lord.
ACTION POINT
It's not wrong to find joy in your health or your job. But that's the kind
of joy that can be threatened. You need a joy which supersedes that. Psalm
16:11: says, "You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is
fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Rejoice in
the Lord always-continuous joy.
