Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

At any given moment during any day, there is always someone or something vying for power, authority, or control over our senses. This may sound extreme, but it is true nonetheless. When we belong to Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will help us always.  The Holy Spirit also comforts us.  The Holy Spirit reveals truth and provides wisdom.  With all of these gifts of the Spirit (and there are more), how is it that we still stray from God? Our emotions can lead us astray.  Our thoughts can lead us astray.  Both of these are gifts from God, too.  But left unchecked, or if we give into unrighteous ones, in that moment, they reign over us! When we see Jesus as Lord - over it all - we are free from being controlled by anyone or anything else.  If we are in the habit of giving in to negative emotions or thoughts, or if we have conquered them but they still rear their ugly heads occasionally, that...

 

When we lay down our right to ourselves, which Christ asks of all His followers, we are giving up our wills to Him. Christ laid down His will while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.  Since He was fully man as well as fully God, in His own will, He did not want to go to the cross.  Who would?  But He laid down His own will for that of God's will. How does this play out in our own lives? When we belong to Christ, we are called to follow Jesus' example.  This is done not only by "living right," but by doing whatever He wills for us, no matter the cost.   Are you that type of Christian?  That is really the only kind that God uses fully.  There are those who still want their own way in some areas of their lives.  They cannot possibly "know better" than God Almighty.  But maybe in their minds, they prefer their personal "kingdoms," whatever they think they're building, over staying true to God's Kingdom. Is your minds...

"Trouble that's transformed into joy." I read this phrase in a devotional recently.  It jumped off the page as I read it. It doesn't make sense intellectually.  How can anyone find joy in their troubles? But when God Almighty transforms them, they can turn into joy.   I have experienced this for myself, albeit after I struggle for a while with it.  I could be smack dab in the middle of a very deep, perplexing, and gone-on-for-far-too-long trouble, but when I turn my attention to Christ, everything calms down.  Maybe not in the circumstance, but inside of me.  We can't always control our circumstances, can we?  The vacation that goes awry due to an unexpected hurricane.  That parent/teacher conference that catches you by surprise.  A child that you brought up to worship God, but who has chosen another path. We all have them.  Troubles, that is.  Some loom larger than others.  Some seem insurmountable.  We wish they wou...

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