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Today, we are going to take a posture of peace by making joy our starting point.

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Posture is a short, audible fist bump to remind you God is with you in everything.

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Together, we're going to be emboldened to take a daily posture of perfect peace.

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In John chapter 15, verse 11, Jesus said,

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These words I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

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Every time Jesus speaks to you, it is to put a smile on your face.

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Jesus speaks confidently because he knows every situation always holds an increase in our

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experience of God. Whether it's seeing our circumstances from his perspective, or

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learning to think the way he thinks, or connecting with truth, or connecting with God in a new way,

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partnering with him, and taking more territory for the kingdom.

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You know, I used to say when I would face hard times, I will be so glad when this is over.

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But then I read John 15 with fresh eyes, and I realized I don't have to wait for the end

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of something to have joy. Because of Jesus, you and I can make joy our starting point.

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We can start with it, we can carry it with us through the circumstance, and we can be

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stronger on the other side when all is said and done, because the joy of the Lord strengthens us.

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The world is concerned that joy in the midst of hard times causes disillusion.

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They call it toxic positivity, but in the kingdom, the joy of the Lord is our strength,

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not our poison. Joy in the hearts of God's people sets expectations accurately,

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because it aligns us with the truth, and the truth is, circumstances will change.

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God's word will not change. If joyful expectation in who God is and in his

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promises is not your starting point, then you'll get tossed around by your circumstances,

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and you'll be double-minded. Because the mind of Christ, which you have been given

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in a worldly way of thinking, they do not mix. If the Holy Spirit is talking to you about

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possibilities, and you can only see your problems, you'll be of two minds, and that

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creates confusion. And the Bible says it's not God who is the author of confusion.

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We can author it. When we don't align with him, it creates a disconnect from our kingdom reality,

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and we authorize confusion in our lives. Because really, we're living a double life,

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belonging to the kingdom, but thinking like the world.

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There's only one way to think about any circumstance, and that is the way Jesus

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is thinking about it. Where we see problems, he sees possibilities. Where we perceive failure,

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Jesus sees us practicing. Where we see lack, Jesus sees what's missing from our experience

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of him, and he has every intention to provide us with what is missing. Jesus has given us access

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and authority to think on things above. What we focus on, we give power to.

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Now, the good news is that for every negative, God has provided an opposite. Opposite of fear,

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perfect love. Opposite of frustration, patience. Opposite of worry, anxiety, panic, peace.

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Now, don't forget Isaiah 61. It's a beautiful passage of scripture. Christ gives us beauty

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instead of ashes. The oil of joy instead of mourning. A garment of praise instead of a spirit

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of heaviness. These times, they may be heavy, but you have been empowered to not be overpowered by

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the world, the flesh, or Satan. That is your joyful expectation. You don't have to wait around

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to see how things turn out to have joy. Why wait when you can have joy today? When your joy

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can be full today? Joy is not a result of ever-changing circumstance. It is a result of

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Jesus's never-changing desire for you to have it. There's only one way to think about your

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circumstances right now, and that is the way Jesus is thinking about it. Do not wait. Today,

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make joy your starting point.

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perfect peace is found in Isaiah 26 3 in Hebrew it is Shalom Shalom meaning

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complete wholeness nothing missing nothing broken this is who you are in

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Jesus because of Jesus you are a living testimony of Jesus's ultimate win with

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every step you take today you're putting Jesus's victory on display and Satan's

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defeat on replay