The Word Illustrated #70--Keep your joy!

The Word Illustrated #70
© Pamyla Floyd
3/18/2011

Keep your joy
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving – Psalms 69:30

Websters defines joy as the emotion evoked by well being, success or good fortune, or
by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

The definition of rejoice is to experience great happiness. It's easy to rejoice, sing praises and lift up the name of Jesus when things are going well. If we get up and the sun is shining, birds are singing, all is well, and we are good. But, what if we are awakened by thunder breaking overhead with dark doom filled clouds and monsoon rains? Can we still rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for who He is and for all He's done?

James 1:6 describes one who wavers like a wave in the sea driven and tossed to and fro. We are to be steadfast and unmovable in our faith. Whether the day is clear or cloudy, the report good or not so good; we are to remain in faith and continue to trust God. Thus, keeping our joy.

Growing in Christ means that yes, we may have to face some tough times, or wait for a promise that tarries long. We can't afford to be fair weather Christians who are always crying, complaining and speaking doubt and unbelief. This is not someone walking in faith. Abraham was told that he would be the father of MANY nations. The bible says that he being not weak in faith, considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb!

Now that's faith. Can you imagine the joy of a word spoken? He held onto the promise for 25 years. Many us get tried of waiting on God and give up. We lose our joy and allow satan to keep taking us in the same circle year after year. My grand mama used to tell me, “It's always darkest before the dawn”. My advice to you is to keep moving forward, stay joyful, stay in faith and keep trusting the Lord. If He has made you a promise, rest assured that if He said it, He will perform it! He holds His word above His name!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice – Philippians 4:4

Rejoice evermore – I Thessalonians 5:16

Note: The illustration is of a stork rejoicing and the dawn of a new Spring day

The Word Illustrated #34 -- Pleasing God, being blessed

The Word Illustrated #34
©Pamyla Floyd
2/23/2010

When our ways please Him, we are abundantly blessed

I want to impress upon you that these are faith scriptures. See, say, and do. Remember, faith without works is dead -- For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also -- James 2:26

1 -- Love Him
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment -- Mark 12:3

2 -- Sing to Him and magnify His name
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving -- Psalms 69:30

3 -- Have faith in Him
but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him -- Hebrews 11:6

4 -- Call on Him
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him -- Psalms 91:15

5 -- Trust Him
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him -- II Samuel 22:31

6 -- Study His word
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success -- Joshua 1:8

7 -- Seek His supernatural power
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting -- Mark 9:29

8 -- Have private time with Him
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty -- Psalms 91:1

9 -- Look to Him for strength
Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually -- I Chronicles 16:11

10 -- Seek His wisdom
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding -- Proverbs 2:6

11 -- Give Him your first fruits, not your leftovers
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it -- Malachi 3:10

12 -- Do not slander others
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: -- I Peter 3:10

13 -- Make Him your joy
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey -- Numbers 14:8

14 -- Know Him to be your deliverer
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place -- Psalms 66:12

15 -- Be led by His Holy Spirit
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption -- Ephesians 4:30

16 -- Do not forget Him
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day -- Deuteronomy 8:18

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Note: The photograph features an African Southern Ground Hornbill bird, with the caption " If only I had known, I coulda saved myself some headaches"