Stagione 7
✨The Fruit Of Joy✨
Developing a Christ -Centered-Lives
When Everything Falls Apart
Peace✨
✨You My Dear✨
✨Come To me✨
✨Pure as Gold✨
Love ❤️ Notes - x1
A New Way Of Life
THE FRUIT OF JOY Often when we think of joy, we think of an emotion. We have been conditioned to think that joy is a response to something good that has happened, or the result of a favorable set of circumstances. Because we believe that joy is an emotion, we make the mistake of thinking it cannot be controlled. We assume that when things go right in our lives; when God has answered all our prayers, and we are celebrating our victories, joy will come automatically. We tend to believe the opposite is true as well; that if we are in the midst of pain or hardship, or if we are waiting for God to meet a need, that it is impossible to be joyful during that season. The enemy has convinced us that joy is completely out of our control, and dependent on our circumstances. He has managed for us to regard joy as something out of our reach unless everything in our lives falls into place. And he has deceived us into thinking that unless or until we get what we want we are resigned to a season of sadness, incompleteness, or frustration. Yet, through the verse above, we learn that God's interpretation of joy is very different. His word doesn't describe joy as an emotion ⎯ something fleeting, temporary, or fickle. It is something good for us. And, most importantly, it is something that can be produced in us. Just as you can produce fruit when there is none, and that fruit can nourish your physical body, the Holy Spirit can produce joy in your heart that can nourish your soul ⎯ even in the darkest of circumstances. The word of God reveals a simple truth that the enemy would never want us to know. And that truth is that God, the creator of joy, did not place joy out of our reach or make its presence in our lives dependent on our circumstances. Instead, He benevolently created the nature of joy (as well as love, patience, goodness, and all the other fruits of the spirit) to be a product of our relationship with Him. That is why you can see people living the most amazing seasons of their lives and still lack joy, while others experience the driest, most painful seasons and somehow remain joyful. The latter have learned how to grow the fruit of joy in their lives through the help of the Holy Spirit. They don’t wait for their circumstances to change, telling themselves they will be happier when they get what they are waiting for, or that joy is unobtainable. They have learned to cultivate joy, and therefore enjoy its sweetness during every season of their lives. Joy, like any other fruit, requires intentional choice. In order to reap it we have to make a conscious decision to do so. Just as a farmer works all year long to ensure the health of his land, and then carefully, diligently sows his seed, we too must ensure that we have healthy hearts that will allow God to make something grow in them. The fruit of joy will never grow in a heart full of bitterness or malice. Neither can it thrive where there is lack of forgiveness or unwillingness to let the past go. Today I ask you: are you willing to rise early, and work passionately to provide for your spiritual need of joy? Have you ever considered planting a vineyard of joy for yourself? Not waiting for it to fall into your lap, but actually taking steps to develop a relationship with God that will give fruit? Prayer: Holy Spirit, I believe that you are the producer of joy, and I long for you to make my heart fruitful ground, so that I may have joy to nourish my soul, as well as bring joy to others. Make me able to plant a vineyard of joy in my heart. Teach me to do my part, and to plant seeds of joy, and bring growth as you water them with your Spirit. Uproot anything that hinders the growth of my harvest. For joy is your promise to me, and from this day on, I receive it.
Day 1: Developing a Christ‑Centred Worldview The way in which we see life will determine how we live life. Matthew 6:22-23a (ESV) reminds us: ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.’ A Christ‑centred worldview begins with the conviction that Jesus stands at the centre of all reality—creation, meaning, purpose, and destiny. When we learn to see life through Him, everything gains clarity and alignment. This perspective invites us to move away from self‑focused living and begin interpreting the world through God’s truth. Colossians 1:17 (CSB) teaches that ‘He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.’ This means Jesus is not an accessory to our life, a genie that makes life easier for us. He is the One who defines and sustains it. When we allow Christ to become the lens through which we see our relationships, work, identity, and decisions, we begin to understand life as it truly is, not merely as it feels. This shifts us from unstable, emotion‑driven interpretation to a worldview anchored in the eternal nature of Christ. John 1:1 (CSB) is so clear: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Christ is the eternal Word who frames and defines reality. Before anything existed, He already was—present with God, fully God, and the divine source of all truth. This means our worldview is only reliable when it begins with Him, not with our experiences or assumptions. Colossians 1:16 (CSB) establishes this reality: ‘For everything was created by him… all things have been created through him and for him.’ This reveals not only Christ’s role in creation but also our purpose within it. We exist for Him. Our work, relationships, purpose, and influence flow from His design and leads us back to His glory. When we see life this way, we realise that every sphere of society and every part of our daily lives is an opportunity to reflect Christ.’ Reflection In what area of your life do you sense the greatest need to shift from a self-centred worldview to a Christ‑centred one? What truth about Jesus from today’s Scriptures can you meditate on to reshape how you see your circumstances? Prayer Jesus, centre my entire life on You. Teach me to see the world through Your truth and not my own limited understanding. Renew my mind so that my thoughts, choices, and desires reflect Your wisdom, Your purpose, and Your heart. Amen.
When Everything Falls Apart There are moments when everything seems to give way at once. Plans shift, relationships strain, and even your sense of identity begins to feel uncertain. What once felt steady and dependable suddenly becomes fragile, as if life is unraveling right in front of you. We spend so much time holding everything together, stacking success, control, and approval like building blocks, hoping they will make us unshakable. But when it all topples, the illusion of strength falls away. None of it was ever enough. You were never meant to be your own foundation or bear the weight of your life alone. You feel it now. The exhaustion of stacking one effort on top of another, building and pushing and trying, only to watch it crumble the moment you stop holding it together. But what if this is not everything falling apart? What if it is everything giving way so something deeper can finally be built? What if God is not stepping back but stepping in, removing what is unstable so you can be rooted in what will truly last? Jesus describes this in Matthew 7:27. A house built on sand does not fall because the storm is too fierce. It falls because the foundation was never strong enough. The storm does not create the problem. It exposes it. Seasons like this are revealing. What felt solid may prove fragile, and what you thought was strength may have been survival. As painful as that realization is, it is also one of the most important moments of your life. Now you know where to build. True strength, the kind that does not shift when life does, is not found in holding everything together. It is found in a Foundation that will never move. This is not your life falling apart. This is your foundation being exposed. You were never meant to carry the shame, the heartbreak, and the grief of trying to keep everything together while slowly falling apart inside. God does not pull away in these moments. He is not distant or indifferent. He does not wait for you to have it all together before drawing near. He is in the middle of the mess, moving faithfully with a love that has never let go and never will. Nothing you have endured is beyond His reach. Nothing you have carried has gone unseen. He is the God of the brokenhearted, and He is closer than you know.
"I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!" _ Love, Papa (John 14:27 TPT) Peace! That's what I have for you That's what I have given It's totally yours! Enjoy it to the full Abide in Me I Am your Peace! I have provided peace Flowing from a fount eternally supplied For I Am the Ageless One Abide in Me Enjoy My Peace! I Am your Peace-Loving Lover I Am your Peace-Giving Father Abba's Living Poetry
Oh! You are my dear, dear one, my child in whom I take pleasure! Every time I mention your name, my heart bursts with longing for you! Everything in me cries for you. Softly and tenderly I wait for you." _ Love, Papa (Jeremiah 31:20 MSG) I love this Child! I love you! And though I rebuke you My heart still yearns for you You're My darling My beloved The apple of my eye You're the one I desperately love You're My very own Love Object You're the one I take delight in I look upon you with such fondness! Oh! My beloved The pleasure I derive from you, It knows no bounds! How much can I explain this love? The biggest expression for it The death of My only begotten Oh! How I love you! Bask in this love Walk in the consciousness of it Take a good hold of it Never ever let it go I Am your Shameless Lover I Am your Boundlessly-Loving Father Abba's Living Poetry
"Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly." _ Love, Papa (Matthew 11:28-29 MSG) I have a hang of it How to live this life I've got it figured out Yes, I'm the Omnipotent One Take a walk with Me and I'll show you the ropes One step at a time One day at a time Let it all go and let Me Come child, come! Lean into My help Lay hold on My love Move to the rhythm of My grace Let it lull you to rest and ease In Me, you'll enjoy the soft and light life Come my beloved, Come! With Me, you have the free-and-unburdened life! With Me, you'll live the graciously-easy life! I Am your Burden-Easing Lover I Am your Grace-Giving Father Abba's Living Poetry
"I know where you're going. And when I have tested you, you will come out as pure as gold." _ Love, Papa (Job 23:10 NLT) Do you for a moment think I have no idea? About what's going on with you? Dear One Abba has a plan Papa knows the road Even before the beginning of time This My Child, Is Dear Process The refining The making You're coming out Pure as gold! The best version of you there can be The most authentic copy to grace this sphere I've not given up on you Take the walk with Me I know this road It is Abba's Make-Over Journey I Am your Purifying-Fire and Lover I Am your Purely-Refining Father Abba's Living Poetry
Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you." _Love, Papa (Jeremiah 1:5 MSG) This had to be the first one! Here's a perpetual reminder of how deliberate and mindful Abba is about you! He's had you in mind right from day one! Scratch that, from time immemorial! You'll sure give yourself a sore headache trying to go back in time Through eons and epochs to pinpoint when He conceived the idea of you! Our magnificent, awesome, almighty, omnipotent Father Took His time that much on you! That's how special you are That's how loved you are It's not a cliche You can't really begin to wrap your head around the enormity of it. You don't even have to It's like trying to fathom the depths and extents of the sea All He wants you to do is, Sit back on the beach chair and bask in it In this His gargantuan love Which He has so lavished on YOU! Meditate on His thoughtfulness; Before you were implanted as a seed in momma's womb, Abba knew all about you! All! Should we now go to the part where He has specially called you or you're still sipping on that iced tea and ruminating on His thoughtful love… Abba's Living Poetry
A New Way of Life "Read it again." "Read it again!" "Please, read his letter to us again. Just one more time before we have to leave." What a treat it must have been to be one of the original hearers of Paul's letter. In my mind, I imagine the small crowd of faithful followers of The Way hanging on every word of the Apostle's letter as it was spoken aloud. Men and women who said yes to the invitation to become disciples, students of Jesus. Perhaps it was Tychicus, a dear friend of Paul and faithful minister in the Lord, who read the letter to all who had gathered. (See Ephesians 6:21 NRSV) With each consecutive reading, the words that the Spirit of Jesus gave to the Apostle Paul for the saints in Ephesus (and you and I by extension) began to move from their minds, down into their hearts, and eventually out through their bodies. Words that would both renew their minds and transform their way of life. Words that would shape who they are "in Christ." Words that would renovate their identity as "beloved children," sons and daughters of the Creator of the Universe. Words that would invite them into an interactive, intimate life of prayer. Words that would form a new community of faithful followers united in Christ with the common goal of advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth. Over time, as the saints in Ephesus had time to digest and reflect on the Apostle's letter, it would become crystal clear that nothing in their lives would be the same. The old way in which they once walked, the passions of their flesh, and their allegiance to the patterns of this world would need to be put to death. (See Ephesians 2:1-3 NRSV) With each passing day, the Holy Spirit would invite them into a new way of life in Christ. A way of living that God had prepared for them long before they ever took their first breath. (See Ephesians 2:10 NRSV) In much the same way, you and I have been invited into a new way of life in Christ. A way of "walking in a manner that is worthy of the Lord." A long journey of obedience focused on progress, not overnight perfection. (See Colossians 1:10 NRSV) A way of living that brings transformation to every area of our lives. Our marriages. Our parenting. Our careers. Our churches. And our communities. Friend, what is it for you? What area of your life needs to be transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Jesus?
Prayer: An Interactive, Intimate Relationship with Jesus Throughout his letter to the saints in Ephesus, we see the Apostle Paul's heart for prayer on display. A heart that is overcome with gratitude despite being an "ambassador in chains" for the Gospel. A heart of compassion and love that is desperate for the Father of glory to generously pour out His wisdom and revelation on the people of Ephesus. And a heart characterized by an unceasing desire for those that might hear his words to "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." Indeed, there is much we can learn about prayer from Paul's concluding remarks. "Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak." Ephesians 6:18-20 NRSV Here are three things I see from today's text: #1 - Pray Without Ceasing: This is what Brother Lawrence referred to as Practicing the Presence of God, and later what Frank Laubach would write about in The Game with Minutes. Both sought to experience God in a moment-by-moment interactive relationship. Truly, the more we pray, the more we think to pray. #2 - Intercessory Prayer: Paul encourages us to "persevere in supplication for all the saints." What an honor and a privilege it is to come before the throne of God on behalf of another soul. At the intersection of prayer and community, Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another." #3 - Prayer Gives Way to Boldness: Prayer is circular. The more we intercede in prayer on behalf of those in our community, the more we recognize our need for others to lift us up in prayer. From a posture of humility, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with boldness so that we might testify to the goodness of God whenever we are given the chance. Our boldness is not aggressive or demanding, nor do we seek to arm wrestle anyone into our way of thinking. Full of grace and mercy, we simply speak the Truth in love. Today, just start talking to Jesus. Talk to him about the places you will go, the tasks on your plate that need to be accomplished, and the people you will meet as you go about your day. As you do, remember to allow lots of open space for Him to respond. He desires to have an interactive, intimate relationship with you as you move throughout your day.