These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

 

The reason Jesus gave us this command to be of good cheer is because He wants to help us in times of trouble, but His only access to us is joy in our heart.

 

Worry interferes with God’s Spirit in our life. When our heart is anxious and sad, we have opened the door to satan, the enemy of our soul whose aim is to put us in prison and keep us in bondage.

 

Apostle Paul instructs us in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice always. This is because our access to God is a free spirit. Our spirit can only be free when we allow the Word in the midst of our heart. That is why Jesus has given us a special weapon that the enemy of our soul cannot withstand – the Word of God.

 

You were created as a vessel for God to use. But God cannot use a discouraged servant. We have to overcome such attitude as Christians. How? By saying about ourselves what the Bible says about us. What does the Bible say? 
• Are you sick? The Bible says in Isaiah 53:5 that by His wounds, we are healed.
 
• Are you weak? The Bible says in Psalm 27:1 that God is the strength of my life.
 
• Are you experiencing failure? The Bible says in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Are you feeling trapped that you can’t get yourself free? The Bible says in John 8:36 that when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.
 
• Are you in lack? The Bible says in Philippians 4:19 that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory.

 

Decide today to say no to sadness and stop satan’s access to your soul. Real joy is a fruit of faith and as a believer in Christ, that is your conquering power, because it is Jesus’ access to your heart.

GOD FIRST

“Let’s take a lesson from David who was ready to be humiliated in his own eyes, so that God could be honoured. Ask yourself: Where does honouring God appear in your list of priorities? Do you thank Him for all that He has done in your life, all the way long? While men look at the outside, God looks at the motives of the heart. Instead of worrying about the opinion of others concerning you, let the motive of your heart each day be to honour God before yourself.”

THE SACRIFICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“There is no time to do what is right. We must set our heart to obey the Word of God, all the time. God’s kind of lifestyle calls us to do what is right in the sight of God at all times, even though it is contrary to what we naturally want to do. Choosing to do what is right is a great test to the flesh.

What is the sacrifice of righteousness? Choosing to do God’s will rather than our own. When our flesh says hate, God says love. It takes sacrificial love to love your enemy and to pray for them. These are the weapons of righteousness. This is the sacrifice that Jesus looks at and rewards. Even though that might not be a grand, or outward sacrifice, it is what Jesus values.”

LIFE ANEW

“When we talk of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are talking of the rare opportunity He has given to all believers to experience a new beginning – a situation in which every dead area of our lives receives life anew.

We are dead to our past and alive to our future. Sin’s power over us is broken and we now put on Christ’s new life: we live in Him, move in Him and have our being in Him. Herein lies the significance of resurrection.”