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TODAY’S WORD…

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You love Him

even though you have never seen Him.

Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him;

and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

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The reward for trusting Him

will be the salvation of your souls.

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– 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Before His Passion, Jesus said to His disciples.

“So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again;

then you will rejoice,

and no one can rob you of that joy.”

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Christ was crucified, as He said He would,

and He rose again, as He said He would,

but what about our joy?

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Why do we, so often, appear to lack that glorious inexpressible joy

that Jesus Himself said should fill the hearts of those who love Him

and who place their trust in Him?

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If Jesus told us,

“you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy”,

so, what has happened to our joy?

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The answer is quite simple,

it is also very sad:

it is we who keep robbing ourselves of that joy,

through our self-centredness;

through our ever-complaining self-pity;

through our seemingly insatiable nature.

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Yes, no one can rob us of the joy that Christ brings to our heart

– except we ourselves.

And that can only result from lack of faith and trust in Him.

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Sing praises to God and to His Name!
Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord –
rejoice in His presence! (Ps 68:4)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, strengthen my faith and my trust in You,

so that my heart can be filled to overflowing

with that indescribable joy that only You bring!

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