As we live in the light of the empty Tomb, are you enjoying what Christ has done for us? Here is a first devotion that focuses on the character of joy:

IN WORD – Joy is a serious problem for Christians. Actually, the real problem is our lack of it. Believers feel oppressed, depressed, stressed, and burned-out at alarming levels. Why? Because we feel disconnected from God’s plan and purpose. We don’t comprehend how our daily to-do lists fit in the eternal landscape, or how our month-to-month survival leaves time for an everlasting vision. We want every moment to count and every activity to bear fruit, but we don’t see how they do. And worst of all, we don’t see how His desires for our lives fit our desires for our lives. We get discouraged because we lose our vision.
Two proverbs give us insight into human depression: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (Proverbs 29:18, The Message paraphrase); and, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). In both cases, whether from impaired vision or denied gratification, discouragement is a result of the disconnect between human hope and God’s design. When we’re on the construction site while the Architect’s plans are hidden away in an office somewhere, we’re lost.
But His plans are not hidden away. If we think He’ll post them on a billboard, we’ll be disappointed, but if we seek them like buried treasure, life will be an adventure. And an adventurous life is a joyful life. The exhilaration of being led by God is the sure antidote to a life of discouragement. It leads to shouting and gladness.
IN DEED – How would you describe your life today? Are you in glad shouting mode, or are you in burnout survival mode? If the latter, why? You have access to the Architect’s design and an open invitation to be a part of it. Not only that, you can rest assured that His desires for you line up with the deepest needs and appetites of your heart. The disconnect between your will and His and between your hopes and His is an illusion. He crafted you to fit your place in the plan. That should be worth a joyful shout. “There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” – John Calvin (in “Worship the King” by Chris Tiegreen)

Do you know the plans He has for you? Are you aware that in His love, God has charted your life for good? Take time to reflect on Psalms 135- – 139 this week, a psalm each day, and bask in God’s loving kindness, plans, and purposes for your life. Know that in Christ, the penalty for sin has been fully paid, and now you are free and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live life abundantly. Pray that the Lord will give you daily joy through the outworking of His good and perfect will for your life. Have a blessed week! – from Singapore, Pastor Sam