The Name I Bear

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy"- Philippians 1:4 (NIV).

As a child, I was always somewhat envious of my sister Joy's name. Mother had the liberty to name her second daughter anything she wanted to after having made me the namesake for her mother. Our pastor preached on the book of Philippians Sunday. He says it was Paul's "joy" epistle. The church at Philippi was the model church and Paul was expressing his joy at having seen their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and living a life of servitude to the glory of the Lord. Those who stay rooted in Christ Jesus are always filled with joy. My name may not be Joy, but I can choose to be full of joy. That doesn't mean I'm happy all the time, it means my joy is found only in the Lord, not in people or the circumstances of this life. No one, including the Father of Lies, can steal my joy from me. Nor can he steal your joy from you, unless you allow him too. Have you lost your joy? God can restore it (Psalm 51:12). Stay in His Word: "When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, Lord God Almighty" (Jeremiah 15:16). I love the last eight words of that verse. The name I bear is the Lord God Almighty's name. Feast on the Word of God and your joy will be restored and/or enriched.