Joy is not a luxury. 

Father God says .....

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Joy is not a luxury option, joy is to be your constant companion (see Phil 4:4). I'm telling you to make the decision to let no anxiety, about anything distract (divide) you from being joyful (Phil 4:6). Through odience to this command you will walk consistently in joy.

When unpleasant things come along there is the very real temptation to anticipate the threat upon your future and retreat from joy and embrace anxiety. When difficulty, set-back, hurdles and disappointment impact your life follow these important steps.

Remember not to retreat from your joy, happiness, pleasure, satisfaction, elation, ecstatic delight in me. Don't treat joy as something you can lay aside and forget. Rather guard your joy in me as the most precious thing in your life.  Do not allow anxiety to distract you from Holy Spirit the source of delight. Instead translate threat, need, hurdles, worry into prayerful worship. Be glad, rejoice, be full of gratitude before me. Anticipate my goodness and redemptive power breaking in.  Through this you will enjoy the very peace that I myself (God) enjoy.

You are not called to give into anxiety, responding pragmatically and naturally, remember you are supernatural and you are instructed to understand that no situation is a justification to abandon joy, rejoicing, and gratitude. This is a categorical injunction, a simple command, do not be anxious about anything, let no anxiety distract you. You must never abandon your joy post. Guarding your joy in me, is a military move.  Say to anxiety, I cannot come down from this great work of joy. This enjoyment of Jesus is not a luxury for me. He is my source of delight, my first and primary calling is to believe, trust and rejoice in Him, nothing can take presidence over this. 

And finally remember that Holy Spirt is the sentry of the city, He guards your life. He watches over you as the good shepherd of your soul.  He secures the city, he watches in advance. He oversees, keeps guard, and anticipates any threat. He is the sentry who keeps guard, is posted on the walls and prevents unauthorised access. It is not your anxiety that protects you, it is Holy Spirit who does that for you. So there's literally never an excuse to become distracted, divided from me the source of estatic joy." 
 

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