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Date: May 12, 2008

This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

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                    The Joy That Sustains

Look expectantly to Me, dear child of Mine, and you will not be
disappointed. I know both what you want and what you need. When they
are compatible, I give you both. When they are not compatible, I will
give you what you need, plus I will also work behind the scenes to
bring pleasant surprises that will delight you.

I do want your joy to be full, and I am more than able to accomplish
that in your life.

Some of My children are expecting circumstances that rob them of their
joy. They look to Me, hoping I will change the circumstances, expecting
that they will become happy if the unpleasant circumstances change. When
they think this way, they assume that their happiness comes from the 
things that surround them. Dear one, that is wrong thinking. If you 
allow your circumstances to define your joy, that is like taking a 
run-down shack on the edge of a slum when I am offering you a residence 
in the palace. If you change your circumstances to remove those things 
that trouble you, this is a solution, of sorts, but it is not a good 
one. It will bring some small measure of joy for a short season. But it 
will not bring you joy that will last; it will not bring the joy that 
will sustain you.

I don't want to just change your situation, I want to change you from
the inside out, so that--no matter what situation you find yourself
in--it cannot rob you of your joy, and it cannot steal your peace. The 
joy and peace that I have for you are inexpedient of your circumstances. 
They do not depend on what is going on around you, they depend on your
connection to Me.

If I fix your circumstances to solve your problems, it is only a short-
term and temporary solution at best. The enemy of your soul will quickly 
begin to work against you to orchestrate a new problem designed to rob 
you of your joy. As long as your joy depends on what is happening to 
you, you are vulnerable to his attacks. But as soon as your joy depends
on Me and on our relationship together, then you become invulnerable to
the schemes and ploys of the enemy against you. Then your circumstances
do not determine how you feel, and then your joy is complete.

Do not misunderstand Me, precious one, for I also intend to work for
good in your circumstances; I intend to bring My glory into them. I am
the God of breakthrough and deliverance, and I delight to take good
care of My children. I love to give you good gifts and I shall indeed
be active in your circumstances to bring many wonderful things in your
life.

But I want to enable and equip and empower you, dear one, to walk in
My joy independent of the circumstances that surround you. I want you
to have the victory at all times; no matter what the circumstances are,
you are above them because you are in Me. The joy and peace that I have
for you are meant to sustain you no matter what may befall you. I have 
put My Spirit in you, and I have filled you with My love, and I have put 
My seal of favor upon you. You are Mine, and I will surely take care of 
your needs. But My desire for you is that you learn how to derive your 
satisfaction and joy from Me instead of from what is going on around 
you. If you do that, My joy will always sustain you and you will walk 
in greater measures of victory than you can think or imagine.

So receive My joy, dear one. Receive it from My hand and be free.