A Joy and Privilege to Live to See Another Year!

This year 2023 offers each of us many opportunities!

Start this new year off right by exploring the word of God. For the entire month of January, the Powerzone Ministries' daily devotionals will focus on the topic of #JOY. Biblical joy comes from the Lord. The Bible says "the Joy of the Lord is my strength", so how do you maintain your joy in a fallen world? Stay connected to learn more.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I Peter 1:8

Joy January 2, 2023 By Dr. George Bing

Isn't it a joy and privilege to live to see another year? This year 2023 offers each of us many opportunities. We have choices to make this year. We can choose to excel in a field in which we are employed. We can choose to pursue higher learning. We may decide to do whatever we need to do to better a relationship. The reason being is that we want to do something that will give us joy! There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is contingent upon outside circumstances. Joy is something that exists on the inside of a person. This joy comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. The root of this joy is the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit.

I remember quite a few years ago now when I was traveling by bus to come down to Florida to see my parents. I was at the Port Authority Terminal and had all of these bags that I was carrying in both hands. I felt vulnerable as I walked down the corridor there my hands were wracking with pain from carrying those bags. They were feeling heavier and heavier as I walked and I was grimacing but didn’t want anyone to know the pain that I was experiencing. It also would’ve been obvious that I was vulnerable to anyone looking to rob me as well. The enemy can see when you’re struggling with burdens when you’re carrying them by yourself. Years later I returned walking down that same corridor with about the same amount of baggage (burdens) that I had years before.

The difference is the suitcase I had now had wheels on them. Yes, Jesus Christ is the heavy load sharer. In this life, we’re going to have to carry burdens, but He shares the load with us. That alone should give you joy in knowing that! When you are in the right relationship with the Lord, the joy of the Spirit of God always manifests itself. When you realize that you aren't required to live a perfect life independent of God; because He already did it for you. When you discover that He already paid the price for our sins. When you recognize that you were a sinner, but are now saved by grace; "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I Peter 1:8. What are your thoughts?