So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-7, ESV Courage is defined as ‘to boldly have confidence’. Would you say you are courageous? If so, in what is your confidence? If your confidence or faith is in Jesus Christ, you have courage which is grounded in the truth of Scripture! These verses remind us we cannot physically see our Lord while we are in earthly bodies, but sweet fellowship with Him is available to us through prayer, studying the Bible, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We don’t need to be afraid as we walk day today because no matter what this life brings, we know we will live with Him in Heaven someday.  Won’t you live with courage as you walk by faith, not by sight? Click here to download this free lock screen from Instagram. Find it in the highlight: iJoy Would you like to read the other Devotionals in this series? To Be Righteous | Romans 1:17b Faith over Fear | Ephesians 6:16 We like

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 2 (ESV) Click here to download the gorgeous free printable Click here to share this printable on Facebook with your Friends Would you think it strange if someone greeted you in this manner? The words mercy and peace were a common Jewish greeting.  Jude tells us in verse 1 that he is writing this short letter specifically to genuine believers, who are blessed because of their salvation in Christ! Jude adds love to his greeting to remind the recipients of Christ’s love. The Greek word for multiplied means 'to be increased to the fullest measure’. In other words, Jude desires believers continually remember the Lord’s blessing no matter how hard their spiritual battle might become. Click here to download this free lock screen from Instagram (find it in my highlight: iJoy) God’s mercy is always available to us, but especially when we repent of sin. God then puts His peace in our hearts as He confirms that our sins are forgiven. His love is constantly poured out on us as we seek to obey Him. If you haven’t yet experienced God’s mercy through forgiveness of your sins, won’t you put

  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Exodus 14:14 (ESV) Friend, do you feel like you are all alone in this battle called life? The people of Israel felt that way, too! In the context surrounding this verse, they were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. They cried to the Lord for help but didn’t believe He could really take care of them.  Full of distrust and fear, they accused Moses of deceiving them by leading them into the desert to die.  The Hebrew word for fight means to ‘overcome or prevail’. If you remember the story, you know that God overcame Pharaoh’s army and protected His children in a very exciting and miraculous way. The battle in your life may not be as big as theirs, but if you are a follower of Christ, you have this promise that the Lord will fight for you as well. You can turn your problems over to Him and wait while He works for you. Won’t you trust Him today with your battle? As He fills you with peace and joy, you will find that you have no reason to fear because He

  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7 (ESV) Click here to download this beautiful printable! Click here to set this as the lock screen on your phone! Do you worry or become angry because of things that are out of your control? This verse has the solution! The word in Hebrew for be still has the idea of rest. Not resting from all our responsibilities, but rest in our heart and soul because we find our satisfaction in God. And He has given us peace and joy. The great theologian, Charles Spurgeon, writes that resting in God is “confiding all of our griefs and fears to Him, and feeling strengthened, patient and hopeful in the act of doing so…a conviction that the ordering of all that concerns us is safer in His hands than in our own.” If you'd love to have this lock screen on your phone, find it at my Instagram Highlight: iJoy by clicking here Rather than allowing ourselves to be overcome by emotions when life doesn’t go as we expect, let’s

  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. Genesis 1:27-28a (ESV) Click here to download this gorgeous printable  Click here to share it with your friends on Facebook Do you ever feel worthless? Friend, that feeling is a flat-out lie from the enemy. Consider this: you were created in the image of God by God Himself! You were formed with purpose. The Greek word for image means a resemblance relative to spiritual things. Being created in the image of God is more than skin-deep; it reaches the heart and soul of the matter.  God’s perfect design has given us the ability to have a personal relationship with Him! As we live His way and renew our minds in the Word, our character begins to resemble His more and more. Click here to set this as the lock screen on your phone! Whenever you notice that old “worthless” lie creeping into your mind, remember the truth: You were made on purpose, a masterpiece, crafted by the Master. Won’t you thank Him today for creating you in His image and for the opportunity

  "So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:1-4 (ESV) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Is your heart filled with joy when God brings the opportunity to come alongside a sister in Christ who needs encouragement or does it seem more an imposition? If we are united with Christ and maturing in Him, our lives should begin to show the same kind of sacrificial love and service to others as Christ pours out on us. The Greek word for ‘selfish’ is also translated as strife or contention and speaks of the pride that prompts people to push for their own way. Paul is telling us in these verses that there is no room for this quality in the life of a believer. Instead, we are to have a humble opinion of