23/04/24
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD
Today’s Scripture
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4, NIV
REJOICE
God did not create you to live depressed, stressed out, worried, or frustrated. He intends for you to be joyful, peaceful, contented, and happy. Take an honest look at your life. Is there joy deep down inside? Do you get up in the morning excited about your future? Are you enjoying your family and friends? If not, what is stealing your joy and causing you to live upset?
Joy does not depend on your circumstances; it depends on your will. To “rejoice in the Lord always” is a choice that you make. It’s a decision that you’re going to enjoy each day whether your plans work out, or whether they don’t. Sometimes, everything that can go wrong will. When you have one of those days, dig your heels in and just go with the flow, knowing that God is working all things out for your good. Refuse to let the negative thoughts play in your mind and tune in to thoughts of joy, peace, faith, hope, and victory. Believe that God is in control and always choose to be joyful.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that no matter what my circumstances are, I don’t have to live stressed and frustrated and discontent. Thank You that You have made this day and I can rejoice and be glad in it. I will choose joy because I know You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
SECTION TWO
Isn’t the above passage beautiful in the King James Version? You can make the Lord your habitation.
First John 4:16 says, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” The more you stay in His love, the more God Himself becomes your dwelling place.
No evil shall befall you and no plague shall come near your dwelling. And as you make Him your dwelling place, He protects your dwelling. No plague shall even come near your home!
In another psalm, it is written, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). As we make the Lord our city of refuge and allow Him to put us upon His shoulders, He becomes our “very present help” even if we encounter trouble.
Iris from Australia experienced God’s protection for herself when a cyclone hit the area she lived in. Read her testimony here:
A mini cyclone hit our street and the surrounding area recently. As I huddled in the hallway with my husband and our cat, I declared, “Thank You, Jesus, that You are the calm in the storm!”
When the wind stopped, we went outside and saw a lot of fallen trees on the road. The trees in our street were huge and as tall as thirty meters. As a result, many cars were crushed by the trees and some houses were also damaged. My husband’s work car was damaged slightly but our family car was left unscathed. And praise the Lord no one was injured!
As the damaged trees were being cut down across the road, I realized something. The path of the wind had cut through a few properties across the road and when it came near our house, it stopped completely! It did not come near us and our house was completely undamaged.
Everyone in our street was so surprised that the big tree in our backyard was untouched and that we had no cleanup of our own to do. Praise Jesus! He is the calm, peace, and protection I need!
Wow, praise the Lord! I love this testimony—when the Lord Himself is your refuge and your protection, even cyclones have to stop in their tracks when they come near you!
Dara Network TV 