Unshakeable Joy
Hello Bride of Christ,
When was the last time you experienced a smile that hurt your face? You know when you cannot stop yourself from smiling that the muscles in your face begin to feel sore. When this happens it seems to be this unspeakable overwhelming joy that rises up and takes over. Some might describe the feeling like walking on clouds, or living on cloud 9. It truly is joy, unshakeable joy!
I do not know about you but I want to feel that unshakeable joy more and more each day. As days seem to get darker and trials seem to get harder I want to have the Jesus within me rise up and show up on my face with a smile. So how can we access this joy?
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 9, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each on give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." This concept of finding unshakeable joy in being generous begins in deciding in our hearts. Paul encourages us to purpose in our hearts to be giving. Giving not because we are told too. Giving not with dragging feet, mumbling hearts, or closed fist. Giving with cheerful hearts! But yet again I ask how can we access this joy through giving?
Jesus according to the gospel of Mark pointed out to His disciples the core place this unshakeable joy accessed through generosity is accessed. Mark 12:41-44 "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then the poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.'" This joy in giving is accessed through giving of your whole-self. No holding back. No waiting for fullness. Giving your whole-self just as you are in the moment. The widow did not wait to give when she had more. The widow did not give with a reluctant heart. She gave all of herself.
Bride of Christ, you want to walk around with unshakeable joy? A joy you just cannot shake. A joy that no circumstance can remove. Give your whole-self to Jesus. For Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 goes on to write, "And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you , always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." God is the one able to give you grace to give your whole-self to Him, and because you can never out give the Giver, He in return makes you abundance in all that you do! Choose His grace today and walk-in unshakeable joy!
