Morning by Morning, July 11 - “For the Sake of the Joy!”
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your Spirit, as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
As I wait and listen for Your leading this morning, what comes immediately to my spirit and up to my mind in a thought of words from Your Holy Spirit is this:
“For the sake of the joy, endure. For the sake of the joy, overcome. For the sake of the joy, follow Me and I will make all things work together for good.” ...
Yes, Lord. What come immediately to mind is Your written Word:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
That’s the path of life You followed. That’s the perspective of life You chose to believe and embrace by faith -- by persevering, overcoming faith. “For the sake of the joy that was set before (You),” You endured and You overcame.
And that same joy is set before me and before all who embrace Your grace for this same path and perspective of life in You:
“In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).
Yes, Lord. By the power of Your grace at work within me, I choose this path, this perspective -- to keep trusting You, loving You, through whatever I’m enduring and overcoming, to keep looking to You, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith. “For the sake of the joy” -- this “indescribable and glorious joy” that You awaken within me and pour out through me.
This is one of the great blessings of seeking to live my life ever-abiding in Your Presence -- looking to You, embracing You, following You:
“You show me the path of life.
In Your Presence there is fullness of joy;
in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
“For the sake of the joy” You’ve set before me, for the blessing of the “fullness of joy” that fills me now as I journey with You, I do believe You’ll keep giving me the grace to keep enduring and overcoming all the “various trials,” all the challenging encounters, all the opportunities I come across to keep looking to You. You’ll keep making all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). You’ll keep making me more like You each day (Romans 8:29). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be filled with the fullness of joy, as you seek to follow Jesus, empowered by the grace of God to endure and overcome, all for the sake of the joy set before you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:
