These first two qualities- love and joy- so often make us think of butterflies and rainbows, sunny, cloudless moments. Rare, trouble free days. Oh, we love those days, and that is good.
But this kind of joy and love– that’s just the chocolate mint on our hotel pillow that should be enjoyed but never mistaken for the real vacation.
God’s love, on the other hand, is strong, and fierce, and capable. His joy, the joy we have as his children, is deep and formative.
It changes everything.
Our foundation is security, our future is glory, our purpose is an eternal Kingdom. Our suffering is redeemable, our tears are comforted, and our days are meaningful. We are loved, we are chosen, we are given the opportunity to be Christ in this world, in our world. When we allow the Spirit to transform us into God’s image, this is our joy.
Father, my prayer is for my children’s hearts; that they would find joy in your presence as you show them the way of life. May they always walk in your ways by your Spirit. May they find their joy in your love, your glory, your purpose as they grow into the people you created them to be. I pray, Father, that your joy would be their strength. #prayersformychildren
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