The candle in today’s background photo represents each of our lives.
Just as breezes will naturally blow, causing the little candle’s flame to flicker, so also breezes of difficulties will inevitably blow across our lives, causing our flame to flicker.
It is clearly obvious that this little candle was not made to sustain gusty winds and stormy conditions. In such circumstances, this little candle needs to be protected.
So also, when Satan sends stormy winds into our lives, in an effort to snuff out our flame, it is God Himself who protects our flame!
“But You are a shield around me, O LORD;” -Psalm 3:3
“The LORD is my strength and my shield;” -Psalm 28:7
“We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.” -Psalm 33:20
“O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle – “ -Psalm 140:7
“You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” -Psalm 32:7
Did you notice that part of our protection will be God surrounding us with songs of deliverance … JOY is our protection, even in the middle of the storm and winds!
JOY … because God is faithful!
JOY … because we can trust God completely!
JOY is a weapon of spiritual warfare!
But what about when the stormy winds aren’t directly affecting us?
What about when we see storms from a distance … storms of suffering, pain, injustice, heartache blowing destruction through the lives of innocent people??
Our little candle was not made to sustain those gusty winds or that storm. We must trust that our faithful God is protecting and shielding those people, in those storms … their little candles are burning God’s LIGHT and God’s LOVE to people there in those places, in those storms.
God is in control. God is protecting their little candles; God is protecting their flame. We must trust.
“May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” -Romans 15:13
Did you notice that JOY and PEACE are the result of our believing.
We have to trust God.
How can I have hope??
I must believe in God … and trust Him.
As I believe and trust … the Holy Spirit will give me His power.
The Holy Spirit will give me power to have joy … even in the middle of pain.
The Holy Spirit will give me power to have peace … even in the middle of suffering.
The Holy Spirit will give me power to have hope!
The Fruit of the Spirit is JOY.
