Happy Monday, Everyone!
Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-8
I (Jesus) am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
And we know (We can if we’ll simply believe the Holy Spirit’s words here. The choice is ours each day) that all things (it all) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Wow, Jesus changes everything (it all). I mean, He says to count “it all” joy. Most of us can’t count it all joy. What does that even mean? Our “joy” list is probably full of wants. It’s a list we don’t like violated to say the least. What would it do to our lives if we could count it all joy? What if “it all” was on our joy list?
Jesus is saying “count it all joy” can be accomplished in Him. Jesus says He wants to use “it all” to give us patience, to make us perfect, so we can be complete, wanting nothing. Why do we need patience, and how do we possibly become perfect and entire wanting nothing?
Well, because being impatient (imperfect and wanting “it all” to go our way) can bring great harm to our bodies, souls and minds. If Jesus can lift us above “it all,” if He can empower us to live above conditions, then nothing can really do us harm. We’d have more of His peace than we can even imagine. We’d be immovable in our spirit, mind and body. We would be more rested, peaceful, and content. We’d trust Him in “it all” all the time.
Can we really count “it all” joy? Can we really acquire that precious Holy Spirit perspective and indwelling? Yes. Jesus brings it up for that very reason. He’s saying that – with the help of the Holy Spirit, and with us yielding to the Holy Spirit living in us – we can count it all joy.
“Jesus, apart from You, I know I can’t count it all joy, and I’m tired of not counting it all joy. I’m worn out from trying to handle things on my own, in my own strength. Seems like I have so much care. I don’t like “care,” and I don’t like what being impatient does to me and to those around me. I know You want to help me become perfect in this important way of counting it all joy. Show me how to achieve this remarkable level of living in You. Help me to yield to the Holy Spirit when I need to count something all joy. I want to live free in You, Lord. I want to believe that You’re always in control of my life. Please help me become free, Jesus.”
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4 King James Bible
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance (patience) [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance (patience) have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4 Amplified Bible
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Ephesian 3:16-19
to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…Wow, what riches. What a loving Father we have. He’ll do anything to strengthen us so we can meet any challenge to our faith with victory. What peace, love and joy that will give us.
God bless,
Mark