Have you placed your Joy on hold?

Three men were climbing up a steep mountain when one fell thirty feet. His friends asked, “Are you okay?” “Yea, I just broke both of my arms.” His friends said, “Hold on and I will throw you a rope.” As they started pulling him up one said, “Did I hear you say you broke both of your arms?”  He responded, “YES.” “Well how are you holding on to the rope?” He responded, “With my teeeeeeeeeeeeeth.”

That might work getting back up the hill, but I’m convinced there are things that some are holding onto that are causing them to lose their battle. God says “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.” Hebrews 12:1b

ARE YOU HOLDING ON TO YOUR:

SINS?  David thought nobody would find out about his secret plot in killing Uriah and committing adultery with Bathsheba. It was hidden approximately nine months, but during that time, David’s joy had dried up. Psalms 32:4 explains, “My moisture is turned into the drought of summer.” It wasn’t until Nathan said, “David, there is sin in your life.” Then David came clean and God restored his lost Joy.

PAST?  Failures and hurts can set you back. Some people just can’t get past their past. A minister said he was praying one day, “Father, why does the Devil keep reminding me of my past?” God replied, “Because he’s running low on material!” Repent, and then move on. God says He will “not remember your sins”     (Isa 43:25). There’s only one good reason to bring up the past, and that’s to learn from it and grow wiser.

DOUBTS? Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Holding on to doubt will keep you away from Gods best for your life. Moving into that new job, tithing 10% of your income to God, serving where your gifts honor and build up the church all require faith. Your life’s highest calling will always create the highest level of joy within you. Are you walking and living in Gods design for your life?

FEARS? “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”     (2 Timothy 1:7)You can’t live in Joy and fear at the same time. What are you holding on to that is bringing you such a great return? God teaches us to step out and trust in HIS power to succeed with our God given life. Stop expecting others to bring you success. Don’t wait for flowers to arrive. God gave you a seed; start growing some of your own with your faith.

DISCOURAGEMENT?  David had lost everything at Ziglag, his wives, his children and his Joy. David’s men were so discouraged that the men spoke of stoning their leader. God says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.” If you don’t change your focus on God, you may never recover the blessing that God wants you to obtain. When He sought the Lord, God instructed him to go after what he had lost. David recovered everything that he had lost. Encourage yourself today in the Lord and watch what God will do for you.