(We pray) that you may be invigorated an

(We pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, (to exercise) every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy. - Col 1:11

Joy enables us to enjoy the journey. That's why Paul prayed for the Colossians to endure with joy.

Joy, and the expression of it, is a weapon of spiritual warfare, as well as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Thess 1:6).

If we remain filled with the Holy Spirit, He will inspire or energize us to be joyful, in spite of our outward circumstances.

The lack of joy is why many times we give up when we should endure. The presence of joy gives us the endurance to outlast the devil, overcome our negative circumstances, and inherit the land.

In John 16:33. Jesus said BE OF GOOD CHEER...! One definition of the Greek verb translated as "cheer" in this verse is "to be of good courage". When the Lord was giving Joshua direction, see Joshua 1:6, He repeatedly told him to be of good cheer.

Without the good courage aka cheerful attitude that God encouraged Joshua to walk in, he would have given up when the enemy repeatedly came against him, and the Children of Israel would never have reached the Promised Land to inherit it.

The same is true of us in our daily walk. Joy and cheer give us the strength to carry on toward the goal that the LORD has set for us in life.

- Joyce Meyer

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