Words to Grow On

June 23, 2008

“The secret of joy is perspective.”

By: 

Cheryl Lyle

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)  “The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Joy comes from understanding truth; from having peace with God, from being accepted, from seeing the big picture, from having hope in the future, from having a deep desire to please God.  When we have the right perspective, we have joy in spirit of our circumstances.  When we have the wrong perspective, we are robbed of joy.  Joy is the deep expression of God’s grace and love when He quiets us to know and experience his peace and rest.

Joy is the steadfastness of God’s hand as we go through the trials of life.  When we have the right God perspective His joys are overwhelming.  When we belong to Christ, His joy spills over into all of life – and it is a lasting experience for those who continue to walk the way directed by the Spirit of God.

He promises that he will be with us, that he will quiet us with his love and he will rejoice over us.  What a wonderful expression of God’s abiding presence with us.

Prayer

Father, quiet my sometimes too busy lifestyle.  The whirlwinds of ministry have its way of pushing you aside. May I know the spirit of restfulness in your love today. Refresh me with the joy of your presence.  Amen.