Steve Clark RIP

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Pray by Day
Bite-sized reflections from Pray by Day

Author: Laura Coyle, from the Charis Community in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Fruits of the Spirit - Day 3

Luke’s gospel says, “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ [Jesus] replied, ‘I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’” (Luke 10:17-20)

Joy reminds me of bananas. They often look like a big smile.

The joy of the Lord gives us the ability to trample on the snares of the fowler. “Even the demons submit to us in your name.” Joy in the Lord gives us the power to overcome the darkness and the arrows of the evil one. 

But there’s something better than power to overcome darkness: eternal life in Heaven. We’re mainly supposed to rejoice in the knowledge that our eternal home is in heaven. Knowing this gives us power over fear and allows us to more freely trust and surrender ourselves into the hands of the Lord. When our joy is in heaven, we have nothing left to fear. No demon, no circumstance, no worry and no trouble can shake us when we live in the joy of the knowledge of our eternal home in His arms. The blossoming of this fruit is intended to be a signpost to the lasting hope of abundant life.

Ask yourself today: Where can I radiate the joy of my eternal home in Heaven to those around me?

Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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