John 15:11 NKJV

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:11 NKJV.

Here Jesus teaches us on how to remain in a joyful mode and to flourish in that JOY.

Jesus said that these things that He has spoken will give us the ideas and the ways that will help us with the process to remain in joy.

Jesus spoke about our Heavenly Father as a gardener or a vinedresser. We have to first acknowledge that our Father is the Creator of the world.

He made all things.

He owns all things.

He knows all things.

In other words, we have the Founder and Maker of the universe as our Father and personal Coach.

For our joy to remain steady and grow to its fullness, we need to be convinced that our Father have provided the resources we need for growth.

We need to believe that we have recieved everything from God our Father, that is needed to be fruitful.

Second, we need to trust our Father when He starts His pruning process.

A tree that grows fast with a lot of branches and leaves that are so green and beautiful is not necessarily good.

A fruit tree is meant to produce fruits and not just leaves and branches. As we know Jesus cursed such a tree because it was a deceiving tree.

When we are cut and the pruning process takes place, our eyes should be on the fruit that we are going to have and not on the things that are being cut off.

To stay in joy during the pruning process we need to let go of the past, discard the present and take hold of the promises of God for our future.

Joy sets in when hope is painted on the inside because of the knowledge we have of who God is and His plans for us.

To abide in God is not just praying prayers, reciting scriptures but it is to trust that whatever God is doing will always be the best for us.

Abiding in God also means we believe His word, follow His word and act on His word. Believing and doing God's word cannot be separated if we want that JOY to remain.

Let us see ourselves as a child of God and trust Him by following His word and His leading.

Blessings

Ambrose Francis