One of the needs many people have is joy. While joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and a benefit to the lives of believers, it seems to be lacking in our lives. As I look around, I see so many who are discouraged. People feel beaten down by the pressures of life. Some Christians have fallen into a place of negativity and criticism toward others. Some have a general disposition that is not one that radiates with God’s joy.

Main Points:

1. The scripture is saying not only can we have joy, but we can also be full of joy. Imagine that! Imagine your life being full of joy. Imagine people noticing how joyful you are. Imagine how blessed you would be and how much your joy would encourage and uplift others.

2. This joy is received only one way. We must be in God’s presence. Could this be the reason many Christians have no joy? Is it because they do not spend time in God’s presence? It is because they are not going to the source of joy, God himself.

3. In God’s presence, the things that would steal our joy seem to fade away. There is a fullness and completeness we receive by being in God’s presence. There is satisfaction and contentment that are obtained when we spend time with God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 16:11 - “…In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Nehemiah 8:10 - “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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Today, everyone has natural faith. You step onto an elevator without any thought of its braking system. You fly on an airplane and you sit in a chair, both require natural faith. But in order to be born again, you must have saving faith. To be forgiven of your sins and to be in a right relationship with God, you must have saving faith.

Main Points:

1. Hebrews 11:6 tells us faith is an essential component of our relationship with God. Without faith, we cannot please God, and we cannot experience the fullness of His blessings in our lives.

2. So, what exactly is faith? The Bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for will actually happen, even though we cannot see it with our physical eyes.

3. Having faith requires us to believe in God's existence, His love for us, and His ability to do what He has promised. It means trusting in His character and His word, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. It means putting our full confidence in Him and His plan for our lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Hebrews 11:6 - “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Ephesians 2:8 - “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 - “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

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Remember this truth today: We have been blessed to be a blessing. What are we to do with our blessings? We are to bless others. Proverbs teaches that those who hoard their blessings will no longer be blessed. The blessing is found in the giving.

Main Points:

1. Continually, the scripture speaks to the heart and motive behind our actions. The Bible teaches us that if we give to be seen by others, well, then we have our reward. If our motive in giving is to receive something back, we give with the wrong motive.

2. Jesus is teaching us that the blessing is found in the giving. The blessing is found in the serving. The blessing is found in ministering to the needs of others.

3. Sometimes, God, in his goodness, rewards us here and now, and even openly for our generosity. But the Bible teaches us there are greater blessings coming in the Kingdom of God when we lay up treasures in Heaven.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 20:35 - “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Proverbs 11:25 - “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

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Looking at the night sky with the radiance of the moon and stars, David understood what it all revealed. He said, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” The brightness and the brilliance of the skies tell us about the beauty and the majesty of God. Only someone so powerful and so creative could design what we see each night.

Main Points:

1. Regardless of where we live on earth, the voice of God speaks to us through nature, revealing His existence, power, and glory.

2. Because of this general revelation, we cannot say God has hidden from us. He reveals His existence every day.

3. With this revelation, we have a choice of what to do with it. Seeing the beauty, majesty, and power of God, how will we respond? Many respond with indifference, but I pray you’ll see the power of God, and respond by acknowledging His greatness.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 40:26 - “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.”

Psalm 19:1-4 - “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 1:20 - “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 147:4 - “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

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Wisdom is something we all need, but we might underestimate just how much we need it. You and I need wisdom in our thinking, our words, our actions, and our future. We need wisdom in our work, our ministries, and our leadership. Is there an area of your life in which you do not need God’s wisdom? I don’t think so.

Main Points:

1. To receive God’s wisdom, we first have to recognize that we need it.

2. We can live self-sufficient lives that leave God out of our decision-making. This is a critical mistake. God wants to be right in the middle of our choices and decisions. He wants to lead, guide, and direct our steps. He has given us His Word, the Bible, to be a daily resource that provides His wisdom.

3. Let’s see the value of Godly wisdom. The world, our culture, and our society offer their version of wisdom that most often conflicts with God’s wisdom. Let’s begin to seek God’s wisdom. Let’s begin to value God’s point of view over our own.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 1:5 - “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.”

Proverbs 8:11 – “For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Proverbs 2:1-6 – “If you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom.”

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There is more to your story that is still to come. You are in process. It’s not over yet. You are going to have a story to tell. You are going to have a testimony of God’s faithfulness. You will tell others that God did not fail.

Main Points:

1. It’s very likely that today you are facing some kind of adversity or difficulty. Life and its troubles come to us all. Suffering is no respecter of persons. But you and I have the same decision to make. What story will we tell? Will we say, “God abandoned me, God failed me, and God wasn’t good?” Or will we say, “The name of the Lord is to be praised?”

2. Can I remind you of something? God is not finished working in your life. You have a story that is coming. You have a testimony that is being formed. You don’t know how it’s going to work out, but you will have a praise report of God’s faithfulness.

3. In the middle of the storm, it’s hard to see the end. In the darkest night, it’s hard to believe the dawn will come. But hold on, friend. Hold onto faith. Trust the unseen hand of God. He is at work when you can’t see him. He is working when you can’t feel it.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Job 1:21 - “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

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Throughout Scripture, God promises He will be our provider. While in our minds the line between needs and wants is easily crossed, God truly knows our needs. In fact, the Bible says God knows our needs before we ask. We can rest in the assurance that with God as our shepherd, we will lack nothing.

Main Points:

1. Needs are something that you must have, in order to live or to do God’s will. On the contrary, wants are something that you wish to have, so as to add comfort or enjoyment to your life. Needs represent the necessities, while wants indicate our desires.

2. Though he was king, David had come to the understanding that God was his shepherd. Like sheep, he needed God’s provision in his life. He believed God would graciously supply, and that he would lack nothing.

3. Joy does not come from the accumulation of things, travel, or experiences. Joy comes from an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one who supplies all of our needs.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 23:1 - “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Psalm 84:11 - “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

Philippians 4:19 - “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

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Jesus invites us all to come. Think of the amazing accessibility of Jesus. There has never been a king who was higher. No king has ever had more power and authority. Yet, this king is accessible. He is approachable. He invites us all to come. He welcomes us into his presence.

Main Points:

1. Jesus, the King of Kings, invites us to come to Him. The King who has authority and power over every earthly king does not hide in a castle or a place. He does not isolate himself behind walls and gates. He does not limit his presence to a few people of nobility, aristocracy, or upper-class status.

2. King Jesus has time for you. You don’t have to make an appointment. He is never too busy. He will never be preoccupied. Jesus is ready and available to listen, to hear your prayer, to meet with you, and to provide for your needs.

3. It’s an amazing truth, isn’t it? You have access to Jesus. You don’t have to meet certain requirements. You don’t have to get approved. You don’t have to meet a list of pre-qualifications. You just have to come by faith. We gain access to Jesus, his grace, and his salvation through faith.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

John 7:37 - “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

Romans 5:1-2 - “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

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