288 – Learning to Walk in Joy

January 17, 1988

God is teaching me to walk in JOY. During the week of prayer I went forward for prayer for heaviness of heart. But I am still continually defeated by it. I finally took Dan’s suggestion and called Janet last night. He said her testimony in the Lord is growing. She proclaims:

“THE DEVIL WILL NOT STEAL MY JOY! Jesus purchased that joy with His life, death, blood, and His glorious resurrection. If I have not the Lord’s JOY, I have no strength, because THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH. I must have energy and strength. I must have joy. By my will I speak it out, I pursue JOY, I confess His Lordship!” Nehemiah 8:10

It ministered to me. I am sending her the words to the song, I Will Survive—I had asked the Lord to tell me who could really sing it unto Him. That would be my strong-in-the-Lord friend, Janet.

Dan exhorted me to wake up each morning and immediately begin praying in tongues –not to begin calculating how many hours of sleep I got, or how many times I was up with the kids, or what happened yesterday, or what’s on the agenda today. It’s a good word.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of JOY; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace…. Galatians 5:22