Contagious Joy

 


CONTAGIOUS JOY

By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” — Hebrews 10:35-36

Have you ever been in a season of prolonged testing, and gotten to the point that it all feels like too much and you give up?  Have you ever allowed pressure and exhaustion to lead you to an emotional explosion —an indulgent bad attitude of anger or self pity?  I have.

In retrospect, it is always frustrating to see how short the time is from the moment I give up or explode, and the moment the test comes to an end.  And when it finally does come to an end, the exuberant joy I had been praying for is replaced by regret that either I didn’t finish, or my reward was diminished by a bad attitude.  

I am not talking about salvation.  Salvation isn’t something to earn, but rather, it is a gift that comes by way of the cross.  I am talking about fulfilling my purpose —walking in the destiny given to me by the Father, and receiving His reward for persevering in obedience.  

When we give up or give in to childish behavior, God’s readily forgives for the asking.  But indulging our flesh by relinquishing control over our anger or self pity, is an unlocked door— an engraved invitation to the enemy to come in and steal a portion of God’s intended blessing.

Beloved, are you tempted to give up or give in?  Pray with me.

Father, this has been in a long, hard season.  Our muscles have grown weary from the battle and the incessant whispers of the enemy.  Send Your ministering angels to strengthen us to endure and put a padlock on our hearts, securing our faith, attitude and determination.

Lord, strengthen our resolve to not surrender to the temptation to grumble or retreat.  Empower us to stand firm until the end, when our perseverance will be rewarded with our full blessing and wave after wave of the contagious joy of Your pleasure.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/



























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A City On A Hill

Image
A CITY ON A HILL By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.” – Matthew‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭GW‬‬ And I saw thousands of souls struggling in a churning sea.  Under the darkness of a moonless sky, without a boat, they were tossed.  Beneath them sharks swam, nipping at heels, eliciting sharp cries from those who flailed.  It caused them to cling to their neighbor, pushing them to submerge, sputter and gasp.  Exhaustion, chaos and hopelessness hovered over the waters like a mist, obscuring the small points of light that seeped out from around the boarded windows of the nearby city on a hill.  The city on a hill—a beacon of hope to those drowning, contained behind windows shuttered with fear. Lord, we see chaos all around us —man’s inhumanity to man— fear, anxiet
Read more

Paul’s Handkerchief Prayer

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 Lord, we don’t have to be the only one in a room to feel alone.  We can be in a coliseum full of people and still feel lonely.  We feel alone in our skin.  You encourage us to not forsake meeting together as a church (Hebrews 10:25), but it is the internal companionship that keeps us from feeling loneliness in that packed coliseum. Father, I lift my friend.  Your Word says that where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there in the midst of them.  So Lord, as in Acts 19:12 when Paul sent a blessed handkerchief to the sick and they were healed, likewise, across time and space I take hands with Your precious child.  Together we bow before You and admit we need You.  We invite Your presence.  If they feel lonely or alone today, in their life or in
Read more

Beauty Among the Ashes

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that   I would see the goodness of the Lord in  the land of the living.   Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,   And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” - Psalm 27:13-14 Father, we thank You that with You all things are possible.  All around us there are financial troubles, poverty, disease, depression, anxiety, divorces, confusion, disappointment, illness, loss, pain and grief.  The list goes on and on.  People are suffering, Father, and are clinging to the last vestiges of hope.   Lord, I lift up my friend.  You know precisely what weighs on their mind today, and which troubling thoughts strike fear in their heart.  Long seasons of struggle bring with them weariness and discouragement.  I cry out to You on their behalf, Lord.  You are able.  We ask for miracles.  Nothing is too difficult for You.  We ask that You take what the enemy intended for evil
Read more