From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Tiffany Ann Lewis shares a great word on JOY. We've shared quite a bit about joy this year, and I say we can never share it enough. We NEED JOY TODAY in all we go through. It has been freely given to us...on the Cross as Tiffany Ann shares here:
"Joy is an emotion that is released by our faith. As we survey the Cross and realize that it was Jesus' will to go through all of it, for us, hope will be produced in our hearts. This hope will not disappoint us because we are persuaded that we are loved, forgiven, and accepted in the Beloved, and that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Glory!"
Here are also a couple of resources that will help you experience His beauty and enjoy your journey:
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Blessings,
Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The ElijahList, Breaking Christian News and Prophetic.tv
http://www.elijahlist.com
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Tiffany Ann Lewis:
"Bitachon: The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength"
?the joy of the Lord is your strength.?Nehemiah 8:10
Joy is a precious fruit of the Holy Spirit that we need in order to survive. It is like a bulldozer that can plow through the rough valleys that attempt to keep us from enjoying life. Unlike faith, joy is an emotion. However, when you are assaulted on every side and the devil keeps knocking you down, how can you tap into that joy? Bitachon. Let me explain.
Bitachon, (pronounced beet-ta-chon) is a Hebrew term which means, "Trust in God." It comes from the root batah (Strong's #982), meaning: to trust, to have confidence in, to be secure, and most significantly for this message?to feel safe. It expresses a sense of well-being and security that comes from having someone or something to place your confidence in. The Septuagint translates it as "to hope" or "to be persuaded," but interestingly enough, not as "believe in" or "faith."
We see the illustration of bitachon over and over again in Paul's writings. He was "fully persuaded that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform" (Romans 4:21 KJV).
Here's the key: Bitachon is not about believing in God, per se, but rather trusting that everything He wills, everything that occurs, will be for the good because He is good and in control. It is similar to Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Bitachon is an affirmation that God is perfect and full of infinite wisdom and unfailing love?in all circumstances?all, even in the circumstances that are unfair. Even when cruelness, poverty, and sickness run rampant, bitachon is persuaded that His love never fails. Because of that and only because of that, bitachon is persuaded that it will be all right. We don't know what "all right" will look like, but we know God and trust Him?bitachon.
Death, Sorrow and Suffering Have Entered the Scene, But So Has the "Joy of Our Salvation"
Many wonder about the hard questions like, Is it God's will when children die, or when horrible monstrosities are committed to innocent people? Let me emphatically say, NO! The Bible teaches us that it is not God's will that anyone should perish (see 2 Peter 3:9). Death, sorrow, and suffering were not part of the blueprints of creation. Yet, as we know, when Adam disobeyed God, the consequences of sin?death, sorrow, and suffering?entered into the scene. However, one day the Joy of our salvation entered the scene as well.
?behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.?Luke 2:10, 11
God's will is manifested in His Son Jesus Christ, so that all who have faith/believe in His atoning sacrifice and victorious resurrection will have eternal life.
There will be a day when every tear is wiped away. I just heard by the Spirit of God someone say, "But what about today?" Beloved, we have not been forsaken by God and left to suffer in our present circumstances. Jesus promised that He would be with us always (see Matthew 28:20), and He has been anointed specifically to comfort and console all those who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes and to give them the oil of joy for their mourning (see Isaiah 61).
If you are experiencing the searing pain of loss?any type of loss?the loss of a loved one, the loss of a friendship, the loss of a marriage, the loss of a limb, the loss of a job, the Bible tells us that His hand is upon you anointing you with joy. You may not feel it right now, but that's okay because you know that His Word is true and that it will not return to Him without accomplishing what it was sent out for. Mourn your loss; it is something that needs to happen; just keep hanging on to Hope. Though the sorrow may last for a night, joy...somehow, really, will come in the morning.
Bitachon (Trust in God)
Trust in the Almighty, all-knowing, all-powerful God, who loves you with an unfailing, unconditional, everlasting love. Selah.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.?Romans 8:38-39
Joy is an emotion that is released by our faith. As we survey the Cross and realize that it was Jesus' will to go through all of it, for us, hope will be produced in our hearts. This hope will not disappoint us because we are persuaded that we are loved, forgiven, and accepted in the Beloved, and that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Glory!
This confidence will release a joy that can strengthen us to get out of bed when we would rather give up instead. It will empower us to keep standing on the Word of God, even when the circumstances haven't changed. It is the anchor for our hope in this present life, and it will strengthen us to get through.
As I write this, I hear this familiar song:
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
A miraculous thing happens when you are persuaded that the God of the universe truly loves you personally, even with all your faults and failures. You see, love can bear all things, love can believe all things, love can hope in all things, and love can endure all things. This is the joy that becomes our strength.
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.?2 Timothy 1:12
Now, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you bitachon?trust in Him?so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries
Email: Tiffany Ann@tiffanyannlewis.com