Given January 12, 2019
I was listening to one of my favorite songs. Old Church Choir by Zach Williams, (if you haven’t heard this, you need to look it up and listen), and one of the lines has stuck with me: “There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy.” As we continue to look at ways to be better in 2019, are there any things in your life that, “steal your joy”? What worries you? What are you fearful of? What aggravates you? The devil wants to throw anything at us that will steal our joy because he knows, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). If he can get us worried, fearful or aggravated, then he can possibly get control of us. We need to make the declaration, “THERE AIN’T NOTHING GONNA STEAL MY JOY!” You hear that, devil?!?
Confession time: I’m sometimes easily aggravated. But I’ve learned what’s going on. If the website won’t load, if the leaf blower won’t start, if the car in front of me doesn’t move when the light turns green, if the garden hose kinks up or if I can’t find my phone, I can feel it coming on and, usually, (confession time again), I say, “No devil, I’m not going there. The joy of the Lord is my strength and you’re not stealing it!” Oh, that makes such a difference. That evil feeling dissipates, and I’m strengthened in the Lord to continue on.
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19).
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13).
“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.” (Psalm 27:6).
“They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10), “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you!” (James 4:7).
Are you feeling that JOY yet? This week and this year, don’t let the devil steal your joy and let’s sing with Zach Williams, “There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy!”