The Joy Set Before You: James 4:1-10 (Joy)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Joy?

From Hebrews 12, read the following:

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.'

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

While in intercession, we received the following prayer:

'I hold this against you: do you not know that every prayer you pray and every desire I have placed in you is meant to come to full harvest? I have planted the seeds, Christ's spirit nourishes the garden and you, my children, must look up toward the light in order to grow. Droopiness, looking down with sad, unexpectant faces means that the light cannot cause you to grow. You came from the earth and to the earth you shall return, but your spirits belong to me forever and ever. Look up at the light; see the truth and find the way to the fulfillment of the seeds I have placed in you. Believe in me and the life I have placed in you. Rise up, see the joy I have set before you and believe in it; your spiritual development depends on it.'

Are you ready to rise up and see the joy God has set before you and to believe in it?

Then, from God's word, we were taken to James 4:1-10.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' to read and meditate on this verse.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

This verse in James informs us that before we can receive the joy God has set before us, we must come clean regarding our rebellious pursuit of worldly pleasures as the source of our joy.

The following 8 steps are taken from Oswald Chambers. These steps will help us to come clean; to rise up and see the joy the Lord has set before us.

You are ready to proceed?

Oswald begins:

"Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “. . . seek, and you will find . . . .” Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “. . .seek, focus, and you will find . . . Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “…seek, [focus,] and you will find…”

Are you willing to 'narrow your focus' now and seek God with your whole heart?

Oswald observes:

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…” (Isaiah 55:1 ). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it."

How often have you tried to 'give another person what you found' and have it not go well?

Oswald continues:

“. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock."

In your mind, imagine that you are approaching a door that opens to the Kingdom of Heaven and the Lord, your God. With everything you've got, knock and keep knocking.

Select 'Successful' when you have truly knocked.

Oswald adds:

“Cleanse your hands . . .” Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (James 4:8).

As you continue to knock, imagine that you are shouting out to the Lord so that He can hear you from behind the door. Ask Him to search you and reveal any source of joy that you are currently pursuing that is unpleasing to Him.

Write down what you receive.

Oswald observes:

"It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament . . . ” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are."

Websters defines 'lament' as: "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow."

Still knocking on the door, allow yourself to lament before the Lord.

You can do so privately, or write in the space provided.

Oswald concludes:

"It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “...to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10)."

Now imagine that God, your Father and Creator, slowly opens the door. With all your heart, ask Him to show to you the joy He has set before you. To show you the seeds He has planted in you; the desires and hopes that He placed in you for the sole purpose of bringing them into full harvest for His pleasure and yours.

Write down what He shows you.

Do you want to thank your Father for what He has just given you?

If 'Yes', then do so out loud or in the space provided.

Read Matthew 11:22-25:

"Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. ”

Is there anyone you need to forgive?

If so, take the time to do it now, then select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Now come before God and ask Him to reveal to you what you desire most.

You can do so privately or in the space provided.

Listen, again, to what Jesus tells us about our prayers:

"But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours."

Even though you have not seen it yet, how confident are you that God has given you what you asked for?

To continue to sustain or raise your current level of confidence, go to your 'Scheduler' and schedule this Trail to appear as often as you like.

Did this Trail help you to rise up, see the joy God has set before you and to believe in it?

How much has this Trail increased the fruit of joy in your current disposition?