Dear GCI Family and Friends,
Nestled in chapter 14 of Romans is an amazing verse that gives us a deeper understanding of the kingdom of God.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
Paul’s short verse profoundly describes the abundant life humanity has in Christ. It is the “kingdom life,” and its initial blessings we enjoy now with a fullness to come for the entire human family.
Righteousness and peace in the Spirit are huge topics on their own. Today we will develop the spiritual fruit of joy. I am picking out joy because I recently saw the impact this message had with participants in a Kingdom Culture workshop I facilitated in Gold Coast, Australia.
Joy is much more than happiness. Happiness is rooted in “happenings.” What is next? What will stimulate me? Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It provides contentment whether you are abased or you abound. Situations don’t make or break the joy that resides in a Christ follower.
Joy is entangled with our internal thinking and feelings about self. Do we believe and walk in the reality of what God says about us or does the negative, destructive self-talk hinder our joy?
How many of us are our own worst critic? How many of us dominate ourselves? We have internal thoughts like:
-
- “I’m not good enough or smart enough” (when we compare ourselves to others, or perhaps we made a B and not an A on a test).
- “I can’t ever get it right” (when we demand perfection from ourselves).
- “I’m such an idiot” (when we identify with labels that others have thrust upon us).
- “Nothing goes right for me” (when perhaps our plane flight was delayed because of bad weather, something totally out of our control).
You get the point.
Read More