双语灵修（葛培理牧师） ：1月14日 喜乐为力

1月14日

喜乐为力

你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。

尼希米记8:10

喜乐是什么？有人说，喜乐是一种快乐的状态，一种活泼的性格，喜乐的人总是笑容满面或开怀大笑。其实这些都只能算是喜乐的外在表现形式，真正的喜乐应该是更深层次的。

如果我们知道上帝爱着我们，而且我们通过读经、祷告，服务人，荣耀神，从而跟神有亲近的关系，喜乐自然产生在我们心里。喜乐并不意味着我们永远不难过、不哭泣。喜乐是一种默然的自信，是一个信徒内心的平安。有时候你会独自一个人一边驾车一边高歌；有时候你会因为上帝的爱喜极而泣；还有的时候，却是你处在战乱中仍有奇妙的平安。使徒保罗说，我们四面受敌，却不被困住；心里作难，却不至失望；遭逼迫，却不被丢弃；打倒了，却不至死亡。”（哥林多后书4:8-9）保罗心有喜乐。耶稣也是如此，即使他要面对十架舍身。

正如幸福无法通过追求获得，喜乐也是这样。喜乐来自里面的一种沉淀。喜乐不取决于环境，而是超越环境。喜乐会带来温柔、恬静和吸引力。你不难看出谁是喜乐的人，因为喜乐的人身边总有许多人围绕着。

今日祷告：

天父，求你使我们充满喜乐，因为你就是我们一切的喜乐。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

January 14

JOY

For the joy of the LORD is your strength.Nehemiah 8:10

What is joy?

Some of us think that joy is a state of perpetual happiness,a bubbling personality,a person who is always smiling and laughing.These can be expressions of joy,but true joy is something far deeper than that.

Joy is produced in our hearts when we know that God loves us,when we have a close relationship with Him through reading His Word,praying,and desiring to honor Him in all that we do,and by serving other.

Joy does not mean that we are never sad,that we never cry.Instead,joy is a quiet confidence,a state of peace in the heart of the believer.Sometimes it manifests itself in an impromptu song while riding alone in a car.Sometimes one is so overwhelmed by the love of God that tears of gratitude form in the eyes.At other times,it is a wonderful feeling of peace in the midst of war and turmoil.

Paul said,“We are troubled on every side,yet not distressed;we are perplexed,but not in despair;persecuted,but not forsaken;cast down,but not destroyed”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9).Paul had joy.So did Jesus,even under the shadow of the cross.

Like happiness,joy cannot be pursued.It comes from within It is a state of being.It does not depend on circumstances,but triumphs over circumstances.It produces a gentleness of spirit and a magnetic personality.

It is easy to tell who the joyful people are.They are the ones whom others like to be around.

Pray for the day:

Father,fill us with joy in You,for in You is all the joy that we need;in Jesus’Name,Amen.