JOY – Carriers of Joy (with Scripture)
Monday, January 31, 2022 – Galatians 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Fruit is the outward evidence of the inward work of God’s Spirit in our hearts and lives. It reveals to the world that we are God’s children and disciples of Jesus of Christ. Take a moment for self-examination. Are you producing these Christian qualities in increasing measure each day? Are you more loving, joyful, peaceful, and patient then you were yesterday? Would others characterize you as kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled? The Spirit is working in you to produce these fruits. Ask Him to help you with any area in which you feel deficient today.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – Read John 15:5-8 - “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Jesus is clear, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit in our own strength. Apart from Christ, we are like branches that have been severed from the vine. “Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” It is our ongoing, intimate, and eternal relationship with Jesus that enables us to produce fruit – fruit that will last for all eternity. Take time today to draw near to Jesus, to hold fast to your source of joy and then let His joy flow in and through you – so that you will bear much fruit.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 – Read 1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.”
God is the initiator of all that is good. It is His love for us that enables us to love. It is His joy that makes us joyful. It is His peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Every fruit of the Spirit originated with God and flows in and through us as we spend time in His presence. Thank God for the good things He is doing in your heart and life today. Thank Him for the outward evidence of His inward work as you see the fruit of His Spirit being multiplied in you. And thank God for the privilege of expanding His kingdom by being fruitful.
Thursday, February 3, 2022 – Read Joshua 1:8 - Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Aligning our hearts with the heart of God; renewing our minds with the mind of God; loving our world with the love of God all requires spending time in the Word of God. If we are going to be carriers of joy, if we are going to bear the fruit of the Spirit, if we are going to be prosperous and successful in building the kingdom of God, we must be people of the Word. So, “keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
Friday, February 4, 2022 – Read Isaiah 55:12 - You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
“The Lord longs to make us a people that go out in joy. He longs to make us children who are overwhelmed by his love to the degree that the cares of this world pale in comparison to his grace and affections. Ask the Lord for perspective today. Allow the Spirit to help you focus your attention on the true purpose for which you were created: restored relationship with your heavenly Father. Choose the joy of the Lord over the stress and cares of this world. Choose to “be led forth in peace” rather than led by your flesh. And experience today the lifestyle of carrying the joy of the Lord with you everywhere you go. May others come to know the abundant goodness of your heavenly Father through the way you exude joy.” (Craig Denison)
Monday, January 31, 2022 – Galatians 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Fruit is the outward evidence of the inward work of God’s Spirit in our hearts and lives. It reveals to the world that we are God’s children and disciples of Jesus of Christ. Take a moment for self-examination. Are you producing these Christian qualities in increasing measure each day? Are you more loving, joyful, peaceful, and patient then you were yesterday? Would others characterize you as kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled? The Spirit is working in you to produce these fruits. Ask Him to help you with any area in which you feel deficient today.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – Read John 15:5-8 - “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Jesus is clear, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit in our own strength. Apart from Christ, we are like branches that have been severed from the vine. “Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” It is our ongoing, intimate, and eternal relationship with Jesus that enables us to produce fruit – fruit that will last for all eternity. Take time today to draw near to Jesus, to hold fast to your source of joy and then let His joy flow in and through you – so that you will bear much fruit.
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 – Read 1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.”
God is the initiator of all that is good. It is His love for us that enables us to love. It is His joy that makes us joyful. It is His peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Every fruit of the Spirit originated with God and flows in and through us as we spend time in His presence. Thank God for the good things He is doing in your heart and life today. Thank Him for the outward evidence of His inward work as you see the fruit of His Spirit being multiplied in you. And thank God for the privilege of expanding His kingdom by being fruitful.
Thursday, February 3, 2022 – Read Joshua 1:8 - Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Aligning our hearts with the heart of God; renewing our minds with the mind of God; loving our world with the love of God all requires spending time in the Word of God. If we are going to be carriers of joy, if we are going to bear the fruit of the Spirit, if we are going to be prosperous and successful in building the kingdom of God, we must be people of the Word. So, “keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
Friday, February 4, 2022 – Read Isaiah 55:12 - You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
“The Lord longs to make us a people that go out in joy. He longs to make us children who are overwhelmed by his love to the degree that the cares of this world pale in comparison to his grace and affections. Ask the Lord for perspective today. Allow the Spirit to help you focus your attention on the true purpose for which you were created: restored relationship with your heavenly Father. Choose the joy of the Lord over the stress and cares of this world. Choose to “be led forth in peace” rather than led by your flesh. And experience today the lifestyle of carrying the joy of the Lord with you everywhere you go. May others come to know the abundant goodness of your heavenly Father through the way you exude joy.” (Craig Denison)