John 15:11

^ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

As we look forward to week two of our time of prayer and fasting we turn to the place of looking at one of the often overlooked disciplines that is to be a part of our life.  Joy is somethingthat should come along with the Christian life, and yet joy is something at times we are not very good at.

Notice that Jesus encouraged the disciples in chapter 15 to obey His commands and love one another so that the Joy of Jesus would be completely and totally full in them. There is a clear correlation between our obedience and our joy. As we fill our lives with the presence and the purposes of the Lord, there is a clear dying to ourselves and a clear giving away of the things that so easily entangle us. Obedience to the Lord's commands means falling deeper in love with the Lord and leaving the life that allows sins to be our desire. Today as we start this second week of the fast we do so with a fresh understanding and confidence of the Joy that the Lord has for us.  Like I have said before the Joy that Jesus gives is not conditional, but is constant.  Jesus knows all about or lives, He understands what things we are going through and He is still the one who brings Joy into every day.  I will be praying with you this week that the Lord Himself will give you a spirit of Joy as you walk towards the Master. This truth is especially important as we allow the Lord to help us through difficult times. "The joy of the Lord is our strength" Nehemiah 8:10

On a Personal Note: Please pray for my wife Dee and her family. This afternoon we received a phone call that Dee's sister Mardy had died from a blood clot.  We covet your prayers in the upcoming week and beyond