WORD OF GOD FOR TODAY

Joy versus happiness
Psalms 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy…….

The altar is the place of sacrifice, the place of commitment and consecration, the place where our lives are laid down.
By our sacrifice at the altar, the joy that comes from God alone is released within us. There is a great difference between joy and happiness. Joy is in the realm of the spirit but happiness is in the realm of the soul and is related to our emotions, our feelings and our circumstances. When things are going on well, we have happiness but when things are not going well, we are unhappy; happiness is good but we cannot have it all the time.
Joy is not dependent on feelings or circumstances; it does not depend on our physical condition because it is within the spirit. There is only one source of joy and that is God, God Himself. God is eternal; unchangeable that explains why it is possible to have joy even when we cannot feel happiness or pleasure.
Joy is released only at the altar hence we have to make up our minds, as David did, that we will go to God, to the altar.

Wise Saying
On your altar, Lord, I lay down my life without reservation.

Refreshing daily devotional by Dr. Steve and Pastor Honour Adewole

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