“strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;”
“with joy”
Fortitude and longsuffering are not morose qualities but should be accompanied by joy (inner animation; John 15:11; 16:24;2 Cor 8:1,2; 1 Th 1:6; 1 Pet 1:6,8; 1 Jn 1:4). The devil wants to rob us of our joy. God wants us to have inner animation of the soul, even in bad circumstances and with difficult people.
Principle:
God gives us the power to have inner animation (joy) even in the midst of difficult circumstances and problem people.
Application:
We say, “I have the right to be sour, bitter, and critical of others. I have been deeply hurt by what they said about me.” God’s design for us is that we will have “joy” in any circumstance and with any person. Do you resign yourself to the will of God, or do you rejoice in the will of God?
