Intro from Larry Sparks:
Rholan Wong loves the Holy Spirit! And what excites me all the more is that he loves equipping and training everyday people to encounter God and then witness that experience have a measurable, transformational impact on the world around them.
I'm thrilled at how the Lord is powerfully using Rholan to train up the next generation of revivalists at Kingdom Space Los Angeles. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Larry Sparks, Publisher
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God wants life in the Kingdom of God to be joyful. Paul tells us, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17 NIV).
So, even if I take just a mathematical approach and conclude that joy makes up only one-third of His Kingdom, God clearly means for joy to be a central part of my life.
Unfortunately, joy often seems to be in short supply, as I focus on solving problems and fulfilling responsibilities. But tunnel vision on raising my child's school grades and paying the monthly mortgage bill doesn't lead to a life of abiding joy.
A couple of things to note here. I'm not saying that life should be an unending cascade of joy. I still live in a broken world with a relentless enemy, and I will surely mourn at times in my life. Even Jesus, known as the man of sorrows, wept. But joy is to be the recurring theme of my life.
Secondly, God doesn't turn His back to me if I don't live in joy. He has already stated that He doesn't condemn me, no matter what I do, and that, to the contrary, Jesus is interceding for me if I choose wrongly (Romans 8:1; 8:33-34).
But understanding these things, let us look at three joyful things that God absolutely wants me to do that very, very few people do.
Joyful Action #1
1. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
One joyful thing God wants me to do is to live without anxiety. No matter what I'm faced with, I am never to worry. And that attitude will lead to joy. After all, how much joy would I have if I didn't worry about absolutely anything?
I think of a child laughing to herself as she skips down the street. She is irrepressibly carefree, aware only of the sun shining and the birds singing. That's the kind of joyful life God desires for me.
But I may object that Paul's exhortation will lead to irresponsibility. People are depending on me to get things done—at home, at work, and even at church. And I can't neglect all the critical problems in my city, country, and the world. I have to be focused and diligent. If I don't worry about things, how will anything get done? Am I really to be so childish that I don't let anything trouble me?
The answer, of course, is that not worrying is only half of Paul's instruction. Living anxiety-free doesn't mean ignoring problems. Nor does it mean determining to think optimistically. The command is not "Don't worry, be happy."
Instead of worrying, I can ask God for what I need. Even better, I can ask with thanksgiving, because I know my astoundingly generous Heavenly Father's heart. Jesus tells us that the Father responds eagerly to my requests.
"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV)
At this point, I may want to ask, "But what do I do if God hasn't answered? I asked Him for several things that I don't have yet... (continue reading)
