REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. GET UP IN THE MORNING AND HAVE A SONG OF PRAISE IN YOUR HEART. KEEP YOUR JOY AND BE GLAD-HEARTED CONTINUALLY. GOD IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT IN UNUSUAL WAYS THAT WILL AMAZE YOU.

16/08/24

GOSPEL CORNER

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
BE HAPPY [IN YOUR FAITH] AND REJOICE AND BE GLAD-HEARTED CONTINUALLY (ALWAYS).
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16, AMPC

Glad-Hearted
How long are we supposed to be glad-hearted, to be happy in our faith and rejoicing? As long as people treat us right? As long as the medical report is good? As long as the economy is strong? No, the apostle Paul says “always.” That means in the good times and in the tough times, when your life is going great and when life feels depressing and gloomy, when it’s sunny and when it’s raining.

Jesus says that “in this world you will have trouble.” We all face disappointments, unfair situations, tests, trials, and temptation. But know this: On the other side of every difficulty and adversity is promotion, opportunity, growth, and increase. Whether the sun is shining or dark clouds are overhead, your Heavenly Father is in control, and He has promised to take care of you, regardless of the circumstances. Get up in the morning and have a song of praise in your heart. Keep your joy and be glad-hearted continually. God is about to show up and show out in unusual ways that will amaze you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can be glad-hearted and rejoice in all circumstances today because You are always in control. Thank You that You are always doing exceedingly abundantly beyond all I could ever ask or imagine. I am going to keep a song of praise in my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Do you often feel as though God is displeased with you because you can’t seem to break out of a bad habit? Are you facing a situation that just seems impossible to overcome? Let me share Colton’s testimony with you to show you how believing in Jesus’ finished work and receiving His grace are key to receiving your breakthrough.

Since Colton was a little boy, he tried to please God by his performance and obedience. Whenever he sinned by doing or not doing something, he would feel totally condemned and depressed. He found that the more he tried to get rid of certain bad habits by self-discipline, the more he continued in them.

Right after graduation from high school, this young man from Texas received one of my books. Through reading the book, he understood that God is fully pleased with him—not based on his works, but on the perfect, finished work of Jesus at the cross.

Colton began confessing that he was still righteous in Christ through His perfect sacrifice whenever he missed the mark. The result? Listen to what he says: “I was finally able to overcome many wrong habits and attitudes. I also went from a 1.76 grade point average (GPA) in high school to a 4.00 GPA in my first semester in college. As I began to be more conscious of Jesus and not my performance, faith was just there and things that held me back fell away.”

When Colton decided to pursue further education in the field of medicine, it appeared to be an impossible situation as the tuition fee was simply unaffordable for his family. But as this brother continued to believe God and receive His grace through Christ Jesus, he began to see “obstacle after obstacle removed.” He shared happily with me, “Today, half of my tuition fee has been paid off, and Jesus is already working on clearing the rest for me!”

Beloved, God still sees you righteous even when you fail, because you are forever perfect and accepted in Christ. God judges you not based on your imperfect performance, but on the perfect performance and sacrifice of Christ.

The more you believe and receive this truth, the more you will, like Colton, overcome every bad habit and receive your breakthroughs.