Dependence Day.

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

Romans 15:13 Amplified Bible

I define Joy as the delightful condition of the "inner man" that can not be disturbed by whats happening "around" the man. It is the ability to remain even keeled emotionally regardless of the intensity your of life-storm.

True Joy can not be produced by things. Things produce a temporary sense of joy. It's temporary because "THINGS" are subject to destruction, failure, and disappointments. On the contrary, the JOY that comes from God is by faith, and it remains in the absence of things. As a Believer it is important to know the difference.

Satan salivates at the thought of finding individuals that associate Joy with possessions and things. He looks for the material crowd. He knows that they who are "THINGS DRIVEN", react to gains and losses inwardly. Satan builds his kingdom on the backs of spiritually unstable people!

But when you TRUST GOD, the loss of 'things", will not move you negatively! Trusting God is to believe that ALL events in your life will end with a beneficial outcome. I love the why the Amplified Bible states it, "Joy, through the experience of your faith". In other words, the more you TRUST GOD in various areas of your life, the more He stabilizes your inner man with JOY! Its as simple as this; You decide to surrender all to God by trusting Him, and He in-turn proves Himself to you! When God proves himself the internal effect is life changing!

I believe that God desires to prove Himself to us daily. Yes, even on Independence Day! On a day where we as American's celebrate our independence... God wants to prove to us that we can DEPEND on him.

Prayer: Father lead me. Prove to me daily that I can trust you. Fill me with Joy... true JOY. Cause me never again to be led by my emotions. Teach me to DEPEND ON YOU and you alone. AMEN.