Your Joy Is My Reward

Your Joy Is My Reward (song by Candice Barnes, 2016)

I refuse to be discouraged by what my eyes can see
I refuse to be discouraged by what's not happening
I will trust You with my whole heart,
I will trust You, Lord!
I will trust You with my whole heart -
Your joy is my reward!

I refuse to yield to self-pity for how I feel right now
I refuse to yield to self-pity
My feelings cannot boss me around.
I will praise You with my whole heart,
I will praise You, Lord!
I will praise You with my whole heart -
Your joy is my reward!

Awaken The Dawn!

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn." Psalm 108:1-2

I have told you that the dawn is coming. It is coming, Beloved. Can you sense the anticipation? Though the night feels long and dark, the dawn is coming. Listen for the first sounds of birdsong. Watch for the gradual lifting of the darkness...But you need not remain passive, dear one. "Sing and make music with all your soul!" You can awaken the dawn! 

The darkness cannot remain in the Presence of Light. You can call forth My Light when you sing My Praise with all of your might. Do not be shy or self-conscious about this - let go of all reservations and SING! Sing declarations of My Goodness, My Love, My Faithfulness. Defy the darkness of your circumstances by joyfully singing to Me. The darkness loses all power to oppress you when you sing out in faith. 

Declare Truth. Sing out in the Spirit. Sing out prophesy over your daughter, as I lead you. Wield this beautiful weapon of Light and watch the darkness retreat, and the dawn arrive in brilliant splendour!!

Open the Gates

"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs...Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:2,4

Beloved, you know by now that thanksgiving opens the gates to My Presence; praise ushers you into the courts of My Presence. It does your heart good to worship Me with gladness, especially when your heart is downcast. 

Do not be discouraged by the appearance of your circumstances, but know that I am God; it is I who made you, you are Mine, the sheep of My pasture. I am Good, and My Love endures forever; My Faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:3,5) 

Dwell in this Truth. This is the irrefutable Truth that your Hope is securely anchored to. Speak it out, sing it out, shout it out - declare your agreement with it! Make this your daily practice - start each day with joyful songs of praise to Me. 

"That Makes Me Smile!"

"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,  to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night... For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;  I sing for joy at the works of your hands." Psalm 92:1-2,4

What joy it gives you when your children praise you for your deeds - deeds that you do every day, often without acknowledgement. What delight it gives your heart when your young child thanks you for something specific that you do for him - especially when he says: "Thanks Mummy, that makes me happy! It makes me smile!"

How you love to make your children smile! And how much sweeter when they recognise and thank you for it. 

Oh My dear one - so it is with Me. I delight to hear your praise! What joy it gives Me to hear you say thank You! Especially when you share a smile with Me. So many ways each day I seek to bring a smile to your face. See how many you can spot today! And don't forget to thank Me, and sing for joy!

Hasten the Sunrise!

"O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." Psalm 84:12

Everyone trusts in something or someone. For many people, it is science, "the laws of nature" and the tangible world. For others, it is the principle of "karma", or some vague higher being. Some people trust only in themselves, others trust only in someone else. But blessed is the person who trusts in Me! 

I am the only one who is 100% trustworthy. Everything and everyone else will let you down sooner or later - but this is no reason to get bitter or shut yourself off from others. Just accept that I am the only 100% trustworthy one, and do not burden others by trying to expect from them what can only be given by Me. 

I AM completely trustworthy! This is why you can praise Me in the midst of deep distress. You can say, like David, "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me. I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." (Psalm 69:29-30)

To the world, this seems counter-intuitive and just plain crazy! It is, in fact, your best response to difficulty. Sing your way through every storm. Sing like never before. Sing with all your heart into the night. Declare the coming dawn! Your songs of joy and thanksgiving to Me will push back the darkness and hasten the sunrise!!!

Never Alone

Surrender your heart to Me completely this morning, dear one. Trust Me fiercely, with all that is in you. Declare My Trustworthiness over your situation. Practise all that I have been teaching you:

• yield your weakness to Me
• lean into My Presence
• sing out My praise
• practise thanksgiving
• fix your eyes on Me
• recite My credentials

Trust Me with your whole heart! I am in this with you. Always remember that I never ask you to face anything alone. I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are never alone.

The Radiance of My Being

Psalm 68

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." vs 19-20

"Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" vs 32-35

Listen, dear one - are you getting this? Your circumstances need not define you. Unpleasant circumstances need not dictate a bad day. I have given you power to shift the atmosphere of your home. As you have been practising, singing declarations of praise to Me is one way to change not only your own mood, but the presiding atmosphere over your household. 

Like King Jehoshaphat, who sent singers ahead of his army (2 Chronicles 20), you can pave the way for My Victory. It is I who works the victory, but I want you to participate in it! Proclaim My Mighty Power to your circumstances, then watch Me at work! Watch how I empower you and give you strength far beyond that which you possess in yourself. 

Do not wonder why you are being stretched so...did you not pray for Me to expand your boundaries? Do not fear trouble or difficulty, Beloved. The darkness is a canvas for My Light and Radiance. Difficulty can only cripple you if you live in fear of it! 

I am so much greater than any difficulty that you could possibly face, dear one! Look to Me. Let the Radiance of My Being shine on you and envelop you. 

Just Sing!

When dark clouds hover over you, threatening to envelop you, sometimes you just need to SING! When speaking out words of praise feels like you are just spewing rhetoric - SING! Declare My praises in song...wobbly and out of tune though it may be. Do not worry about how you sound, just SING to Me. This takes you out of your head and into your heart. 

Have songs that you know well as battle songs, and sing these when you are struggling to spontaneously sing praise. Sing with your whole heart, sing in agreement with My Truth. 

My angels declare My praises with singing. When you sing My praise, you are joining with the angels, in agreement with Heaven! 

Despair retreats at the formidable sound of My dear ones singing praises to Me!

Praise

Psalm 67

Praise is not something you do just when you feel like it. It is a sacrifice that costs you something, especially when you don't feel like it. You actually school your emotions by choosing to praise Me in all circumstances - in this way, you teach your emotions that they are not the ultimate authority in your life, that they cannot dictate all your thoughts and actions. 

Praise is a beautiful weapon of My Light, pushing back the darkness that would advance against your soul. As you sing and speak out praise to Me, your emotions will bow to the superior Truth that I AM. 

Beautiful Weapon of Light

Psalm 61

You are starting yet another day in total exhaustion and weakness...I see your desperation, Beloved. I hear your cries for help. I know your heart desperately longs to be strengthened in My Presence. I see that you are afraid of failing today, of falling back into sinful habits of "D.I.Y. mode".

Yield your weakness yet again, dear one. Truly yield to My Strength. You do not need to understand the hows and whys - just trust Me to come through for you. 

Cling to Me, precious one. I am the Rock that is higher than you. I am your refuge, a strong tower against the foe (the enemy of your soul). 

Dwell deeply with Me today. Let Me shelter you under My wings. I have appointed My Love and Faithfulness to protect you. 

Sing out praise to Me - even before you "feel" better. Sing out praise because I deserve it, regardless of how you feel. You will find the act of praising Me helps to push back the darkness. Praise is a beautiful weapon of My Light! It changes YOU and it changes circumstances!

Sing Out

Beloved, sometimes your heart is hard towards Me. Part of you blames Me for the many difficulties you are faced with recently. The enemy has rallied another warrior against you - resentment. Resentment has joined forces with self-pity, fear and despair. 

He whispers lies to your heart about Me: "Your God could change your circumstances in the blink of an eye, so why doesn't He, if He loves you so much?"

O dear one - listen to Me! I share your tears and your heartache over the challenges that you perceive as "big", as well as over the "small" but incredibly frustrating daily battles. I know they seem so very unnecessary to you, Beloved. 

My Precious, are you willing to trust Me even through this? Are you willing to let go of every shred of self-reliance and trust Me with you whole heart? When resentment bombards you with lies, close your ears and run to Me. Drown out his voice by singing of My Love. Drown out self-pity by singing praise to Me. Sing out with your whole heart. Sing of My Strength until you really sense it. Sing as though your life depended on it! 

"They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl around the city. They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." Psalm 59:14-17

My Joy and My Delight

Psalm 57; 1 Samuel 24

You feel that the enemy has sent out fear, self-pity and despair to hotly pursue you. The temptation to give in is always before you. Even in the moments when you are walking with Me in victory, you can see your pursuers after you. 

But I am your refuge. Though self-pity prepares a pit for you to fall into; though fear plans to trap your heart - you are learning to recognise their attempts to trick you, and you are learning to turn this against them! 

When you recognise the enemy's ploys, you can use them as reminders to reconnect with Me. It is My specialty to use for good what the enemy intends for harm! This is My joy and My delight - to thwart the enemy by transforming his attempts to trap you into paths straight into My arms. 

Be on your guard, Beloved. Keep your eyes fixed on Me. Train your heart to be steadfast - sing and make music to Me! Praise Me all through the day! Call to mind My Love, which reaches to the heavens; remember My Faithfulness, which stretches to the skies. Keep your heart fixed on Me. Exalt and lift Me up over every situation you face. I delight in saving you! It is My joy to fulfill My purpose for you!

More Than A Conqueror!

Come to Me, weary one. Lay down all of your burdens again. I will give you rest. Wait here with Me. Refreshing your spirit in My Presence takes TIME. 

Wait patiently for Me. I do hear your cries. I lift you up out of the slimy pit of self-pity. Out of the mud and muck of sickness and weariness. I set your feet upon a Rock. I give you a firm place to stand. I am putting a new song in your mouth, a song of praise to Me. A song of celebration and joy. Many around you will see and will put their trust in Me. (Psalm 40:1-3)

In Me, you are more than a conqueror! (Romans 8:37)

Guard Against Self-Pity

Continue to be on your guard against self-pity. Feeling sorry for yourself, however justified it seems, is just not helpful! Wallowing in self-pity leaves your heart muddy, and your soul downcast. Do not seek others' pity, either. This does not mean that you ought to bottle up your sadness, though. 

When you are feeling sad, bring it to Me. Pour your heart out, cry all the tears you need to - but don't leave it at that! Follow David's example from Psalms (e.g. Psalm 42)...speak out Truth and Hope! Declare My Goodness! Sing out praise for My Faithfulness! Recite the ways that I have come through for you in the past. List the ways I have come through for others. Call to mind all the ways I am showing you that I am with you now. 

Delight yourself in Me, in all the wonder of My unfailing and relentless Love. Why wallow in self-pity, when you can dance in My Love instead? Lift up your heart-eyes to My Face. Your soul will be satisfied and lifted up.

Rest and Rejoice

Psalm 5

Know that I hear your cries and your sighing. Lay your requests before Me and wait in expectation! Your heart is heavy this morning. Lay down your burdens, truly release them. (Ps 5:1-3)

I know that you are disappointed in yourself - how easily the doubt creeps in. Just a few well-meaning words from a caring friend or family member and you start questioning your judgement in trusting Me. Fear looms large and intimidating. You begin to cower...STOP! Remember who I AM! Take refuge in Me, your strong tower! Refuse to allow fear to lock you up in its dark dungeon again. Speak out My Word, it is living and active and has mighty power! 

Remember the truth that seeking Me is your best preparation. No amount of medical information can better prepare you to face your daughter's future. I hold her in My hand. Do not borrow trouble from tomorrow. Trust that I will help and guide you to the right information at the right time. 

Right now, it is crucial to guard against fear - the enemy of your soul. You are no longer a slave to fear, but fear will continue to do its best to entice you back into slavery. Rest here in My perfect Love. Fear has no place here. My perfect Love is full of Light, fear is darkness that cannot stand My Light. 

As you take refuge in Me, be glad! Keep on singing for joy! I spread My protection over you. I surround you with favour as with a shield. (Ps 5:11-12) You are protected by My Love, My Presence. I cover you with My protection. Rest in this covering. Rest, dear one. Rest and rejoice. This is perfect medicine for your aching heart. Rest and sing for joy.