Today’s Reading:
Nehemiah 8
Psalm 16
John 11
Isaiah 61
Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 NASB1995
I heard the Spirit of the Living God from whom all blessings flow say,
Resurrection power is here. The fallow ground has been broken up to make way for resurrection, to make way for healing, to make way for transformation, for reconciliation, for reunification, and for sharp, unexpected advancement and increase. Chains that held people back, that held many down have been demolished by the warring drumbeat of worship. And breakthrough has happened. A new day is here. Though it may look the same, everything has changed. Inner transformation is here and active. Renewed humility is at work in hearts, a hunger and thirst for righteousness has been released and the joy of the Lord has been poured out richly, like a luxurious healing oil from Heaven. What looks the same is now different. What on the outside seems exactly the same is completely different.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NASB1995
Use your song. Agree and stoke the joy in your heart and soul, and watch as new life sprouts in the place that has long been declared dead. Watch as what was dry and cracking is healed and restored to new life through the oil of My joy and your partnership with it. I poured out the joy. But you must receive it. You must steward it. You must work with it. The way to get more joy, the way to keep the oil of joy full is to continually pour it out. This is the upside down reality of My Kingdom — what you want, you must pour out. What you desire, you must first give. I have generously poured out your starer oil, now it is your job to keep it living, active and healthy by putting it to good use continually. Sing the songs in your heart. Continue to terrify and annoy and put great dread and perturbation into the demonic realm. Remember I have endued you with power and authority from on high; and you access it through My strength inside of you that comes from JOY!!
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalms 16:11 NASB1995
I have released the key to healing your life, your community and beyond. It is great joy — joy that circumstances can’t change or shake or thwart. This is joy sourced straight from Heaven and the God of Heaven and Earth, the King of Glory. How do you receive that joy today? Partner with the song in your heart. Put your hands out, sing the song and receive the great outpouring of joy I Am tipping over into your life straight from Heaven. Sing, delight, rejoice and receive. Then be faithful to pour it out generously wherever you go. Don’t hold back. Lack of oxygen to this joy taints it, causes it to grow stale and stagnant — and if you’re not careful, even rancid. This is oil that must breathe and flow in order to stay alive, healthy and self-replenishing. This is My upside-down Kingdom. This is My great outpouring of joy. Watch as dead things come alive as you step into and receive My joy.
How to Respond
- Sing, worship and delight in the Lord. Receive the fullness of the joy He is so generously pouring out over your life right now.
- Pray, Lord thank You that Your joy is my strength. Thank You that our worship has broken up the fallow ground in this place and made way for resurrection. Thank You that chains that once bound and held us down have been demolished through the drumbeat of warfare worship. And thank You for so generously pouring out your oil of joy into my life. Help me to sing, delight, rejoice, worship and receive it. What I freely receive, help me to be committed to freely give everywhere I go. I love You Lord. Thank You that this is a new day, and your breakthrough has already happened.
- Declare, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,”
John 11:25 NASB1995 - Decree, My God is the Lord of the upside-down Kingdom. He operates differently, so I will change my mindset. What He pours out generously in my life will be sustained and reproduced only as I pour it out. When I stifle the joy in my own life, it becomes stale. But if I continually pour it out, it will stay fresh, healthy and full. The chains that once bound me, my family and my community have been demolished by King Jesus. This is a new day, filled with possibility and ripe with new life and change. I will look at my circumstances through the lens of breakthrough, the joy of the Lord and absolute victory. Every dead thing in my life is coming alive through the Name, the character, the person and power of King Jesus.
For more encouragement from The Glory & New Wine, check out the post from this day in years past:
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2022:
