Boy I needed this...

This is another quick post... and yes I got this off of an e-newsletters I get. It's so good... and yes it hit me upside the head.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK

Philippians 1:18
In this I rejoice, yes; and will rejoice.

John McArthur writes in Truth for Today, A daily touch of God's Grace, "A believer's spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal his joy. Change, confusion, trials, attacks, unmet desires, conflict, and strained relationships can throw us off balance and rob us of our joy if we're not careful. It's then we should cry out like the psalmist "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12). Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33) and the apostle James said, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2)."

I think of the times when I have allowed myself, during trials and tribulations in my life, to lose my joy. Yet, I know that joy does not come from "happenings" in my life but rather comes from knowing the Lord. If I were to look for joy from the happenings in the world around me during troubled times, I know there would be no joy at times. However, I know that joy is not dependent on things of this world.I thank God for His Joy and for His Love-which I have done nothing to deserve.

I pray for those of you facing troubled times right now and I know that is many of you. My prayer is that you will know the true joy of knowing our Lord, personally, so that his joy may be always with you no matter what your circumstances.