Dear Explorer,
Read John 15:7
Ask for whatever you wish. How many times have you read that and immediately your mind flies to that one thing you have asked for for so long and still haven't gotten? We've talked before about God's promises regarding prayer, but since Jesus mentions it again, I thought we should look at it one more time.
So, what's the requirement here?
Read John 15:7 carefully, and you will find the answer is “abiding”.
Our daughter, Katy, has a special talent for styling hair. She has the artistic eye to look at the facial structure and create a haircut that looks fabulous. When she asks me if I want a haircut -- I jump at it! She always begins by asking me what I'd like, and I always laugh and say, "Gimme the works! Whatever you think is best." And I've never been disappointed. I walk away feeling like a queen.
Why do I tell you that? Because as I abide with Jesus -- sit down and have lunch with Him, spend time with Him and chat day by day, I've learned that He is 100% reliable and has never disappointed me and always knows better than I do what looks good on me or what is best for me. So, when He asks me what I desire -- I usually defer to His selection.
Oh, I still tell Him my wishes -- there's nothing wrong with that. But the more I abide with Him, the more I desire what He desires so that my heart wants His will more than I want my own way. When I know that something I desire is also His will, then I pray passionately for it to happen. But when I'm not sure of His will, I defer to Him. To put my foot down and demand a particular thing or a particular event to happen is to "not abide" and we have no promise attached to that!
Read John 15:8-11
You can probably give examples of the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is a state of the external – outside circumstances and the way our body feels at the moment. A former pastor used to say, “Happiness is based on what is “happenin'.” Joy is something that we experience from the inside out.
Joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.
That's it's origin -- it's a by-product of being filled with the Holy Spirit and is not dependent upon circumstances. Your whole world can be crashing down before Your eyes but God's presence inside our core gives a deep abiding joy that passes all understanding. I've experienced it time and time and time again.
In John 15:8-11, God gives us a formula for joy.
John 15:8 -- Joy comes when we bear fruit. Remember we defined this earlier as anytime we let the Holy Spirit take charge instead of SELF. So, we bear fruit when we relinquish our control to His and let Him guide us. That produces joy (and peace and love and the whole list of fruits from Galatians).
Right now, I'm praying for God to perform a particular deed for me. I know it's His will. I know He will do it. But I want it now! Hanging onto my demands produces frustration and agitation. Relinquishing control and acknowledging that His timetable is best produces joy and peace (and patience!).
John 15:9 -- Joy comes when we realize we are loved. Remember that this is vitally important because Satan will tempt us to feel unloved and lead us into sinful behavior as a result. When we feel unloved -- there's no joy! When we feel loved and walk in that knowledge – we experience real joy.
John 15:9 -- Joy comes when we abide in that love. Don't just visit there occasionally -- live there -- move in -- make yourself at home in His love. Wow! The joy that produces!
John 15:10 -- Joy comes when we are obedient. The key to staying in the "loved" position is to be obedient to His clear directions. And feeling loved produces joy.
It's all tied together -- joy produces feeling loved. Feeling loved produces obedience. Obedience produces joy -- which produces more feeling loved - which produces.... you've got the picture!
In His service, dale
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