Instead

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It doesn’t only tell you what not to do, it tells you what to do, instead.  Praying that you’ll review the PRISM Topic – Do Not Fret.  God said don’t.  What is fret? To distress one’s self, to worry, agitate, brood, get worked up over, devour, lose sleep over.  That’s what the devil tries to get you to do.  He prowls around like a roaring lion. (Notice, he’s not a lion, there’s only one of those… He prowls “like” a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (cause to fret).  God said don’t do it, it only leads to evil.  Don’t give a foothold for anger, turn from wrath, and do not fret.  Instead, rejoice.  That means to take joy again, choose joy instead…  What is joy?  Exceeding gladness… feelings or emotions caused by success, or the prospect of possessing what one desires.  Rejoice, means to take joy again, to choose joy instead.  God said to rejoice in the LORD always, again I say (Take joy again).  It’s a repetitive thing, a choice to choose over and over.  You’ll need to.  Rejoice is a choice, you choose to, or choose not to.  In the LORD – means in His Word (Jesus is the Word in human form).  In the Spirit – pray in the Spirit, and it will help you rejoice.  Remember who He is, and what He did, and what He promised.  He’ll do it again.  He’ll turn this around, He’ll work it for your good, He’s working when you’re sleeping, He’s working in this situation.  Rejoice for the steps of the righteous are ordered of the LORD.  Just seek Him, and step where He tells you, when He says, “Go.”  If you humble yourself before Him, He’ll direct your steps – even through the wilderness, even through the fire.  He’ll show you which path to choose, and He’ll give you joy even in the trial, like Paul and Silas.  Rejoice in your suffering, rejoice even when you’re persecuted.  Rejoice when things aren’t going well.  Count it all joy.  Consider this trial a joy.  God is doing something, and He’s about to do something more!  Praying that you will rejoice, not fret, that you will praise right now!  That you will believe His promise, and let Him direct your steps.  God orders them, but the choice is yours.  Praying that you will believe His promise, and rejoice in His goodness, even when things look bleak, they’re not.  He is in full control. He loves you forever, His grace is more than enough, and the joy of the LORD is your strength.  And don’t forget to pray.  In everything give thanks, and in everything let your requests be made known unto God.  He has peace for you, and joy to take again.  Are you in a difficult or demanding season right now?  Are you rejoicing or complaining?  Are you rejoicing or fretting?  If you choose joy – He’ll give it.  If you take joy again, He’ll give you grace for it, He will cause it to become strength for you. 
 
Love you all,
dad