This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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                            Know My Joy


Child, I desire for you to know My joy.  I delight in you and I have
prepared many delights for you.  There are times when all goes well and 
you rejoice and are exceedingly glad. And I desire to give you more of 
those times. I love to bless you, child of Mine, and I delight to give 
you good gifts.

But I also desire for you to know My joy even in the midst of 
circumstances that some would call difficult or frightening.  Child, My 
joy is intended to be independent of your circumstances, not because of 
them.  My joy comes from an assurance that I am with you, that I have 
all things under control and that My plans for you are good.  There is 
nothing that is too hard for Me and there is nothing that can prevent Me 
from bringing My glory into your situation.  There is no power in this 
universe great enough to prevent Me from blessing you and accomplishing 
My good pleasure in your life.

I am asking you to see beyond your circumstances to see My hand and My
glory in all that you experience. Be like Elisha, who was surrounded
by an army desiring to destroy him, but whose eyes were opened to
see My army of angels surrounding them.*  The circumstances did not
make him afraid because he saw beyond them.  He saw that the unseen 
forces with him were much greater than the forces that surrounded him 
in the natural.  So he anticipated My victory with much joy. And he was 
not disappointed, for I was with him and I was mighty on his behalf. His
joy was not based on the reality of the circumstances that surrounded 
him, it was based on the greater reality of My plans and purposes for 
him.

The children of Israel looked only in the natural when they saw an army
chasing them and the Red Sea blocking their escape. If they had the 
ability to see in the Spirit, they would have been filled with joy instead 
of with fear. They would have known I was about to do a great miracle on 
their behalf and they would have been singing and rejoicing even before I 
threw the horse and rider that pursued them into the sea.  

Do not be like them, child of Mine.  Do not let fear reign over you.  
Instead be ruled by My joy.  When you see an army of problems chasing 
you and your path of escape appears to be blocked... rejoice greatly. 
Know that I am about to part the Red Sea for you, just as I did for My 
people when I led them out of Egypt.  Know that you are about to see My 
glory and My deliverance in a spectacular way.  Rejoice greatly in what 
I am about to do on your behalf.  Know My joy and let it fill you to 
overflowing.

Child of Mine, I desire that your joy be full in all things.  When you 
are surrounded by difficulties, you are to be full of joyful anticipation 
at what I will do on your behalf. When you are surrounded by delights, 
then rejoice and be grateful to Me for My loving provision.  Rejoice in 
Me always, and I will always give you cause to rejoice, for I love you 
and My hand is upon you for your good.  Look to Me, trust in Me and know 
that I will work My glory in all things in your life.  Look not in the 
natural, but see what I am doing in the Spirit and rejoice greatly.  My 
plans for you are good and My desire for you is joy and delight. Rejoice 
in me, for those who rejoice in Me will never be disappointed.

* 2 Kings 6:17