JOY CONSISTENCY
Luke 19: 1-10

“Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Jesus for you 19 Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19) Word of God made us to realize that joy is what gives us access to the presence of God. Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” It has to be a full joy not a facial joy (that is teeth exposure). It becomes a full joy with consistency. The apostle Paul reiterated in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” God will only survive in a joyful environment. In Zacchaeus’ seeking of Jesus, he gained the attention of Jesus, “…When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”” (Luke 19:5) Just like He offered Zacchaeus so He has made Himself available to every man that will respond the same way Zacchaeus responded. The Bible recorded, “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (Luke 19:6) Can you respond to Him joyfully when He comes to locate you at your sycamore tree? The Bible is not telling us just for the fun of it that Zacchaeus received Him joyfully, but it is telling us so we can observe to do what is written. Prayer, the calling of God’s attention, is to be without ceasing not only when there is need. A prayer-less life is equal to a prevail-less life while a prayerful life provokes prevailing life. Paul and Silas, they prayed, they sang and the Holy Ghost came down. Acts 16: 25-26, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Above all, giving thanks is the ultimate because the word recorded it as the will of God in Christ Jesus. The will of God is for us to have life and to be able to have it abundantly. Having life and having it abundantly is being accessible to the presence of God and overcoming life just like Paul and Silas did. Failure to rejoice is a challenge to pass into a praying session. Thanksgiving will only flow where there is a flow of joy and the Spirit of God will respond to demonstrate the presence of God. The word of God is true to the core if you will incorporate yourself in the word.

Prayer for today: O Lord my God, I ask that You fill me with Your word and let Your word have its way in all of my life and undertakings.