EPISODE 335 – CARTWHEELS OF JOY 1

Sunday 24th December, 2023

CARTWHEELS OF JOY 1

“I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.” 

Habakkuk 3:18 (MSG)

You just can’t live the higher life of faith when you are dependent on situations or circumstances.

Your life is not defined by what happens to you. Your life is defined by your SOURCE.

The question is, who or what is your source?

Who do you depend on?

Through whom do you find the true meaning of your life?

The life of the born again is defined by the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You don’t define your life by the circumstances surrounding you. The challenges you face are not to determine the state of your heart.

Your joy and peace must not be dependent on your present situation. Your joy and peace is in Christ. Which means, they have eternal value. That is not the value and longevity of your present challenges or situation.

Your circumstances don’t have eternal value. It doesn’t matter how they come, they will pass away.

Just this book title by Robert Shuller reprogrammed my mindset:
“Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!”

I said to myself, “If tough times never last, then I don’t have to be controlled by these times.”

No wonder Paul never saw himself as a Prisoner in Rome. He always referred to himself as a Prisoner of Christ. He was never limited by those chains and the walls of the prison.

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1:12 (Bereans Standard Bible)

So he said to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

What a mindset!

Habakkuk the Prophet found himself in a dilemma, which made him misunderstand God at a point. When he saw the cruelty of the Chaldeans against the Israelites, he felt God had refused to help. (Habakkuk 1:2-4;  2:1)

You may find yourself in a situation and begin to feel God has left you and your family. You may seem to be angry with God or doubt his word. The adversary takes delight in such thoughts of doubt towards God.

The adversary sees and capitalizes on your misunderstanding of God to lock you up in your lowest ebb.

Habakkuk was troubled by the sufferings of his people. But being troubled wasn’t the solution. When Habakkuk turned away from his dilemma to focus on the Saving grace of the Lord, an atmosphere of joy sprung up.

He said in his Faith Hymn:

“Though the fig tree does not blossom
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 (Amplified).

Oh, glory to God!
What is your composure amidst your failures?

You are not sorrowful or joyful because of your situation. You are sorrowful or joyful by choice.

Don’t turn to God with complaints.

By faith behold the saving grace of the Lord and turn cartwheels of joy and praise to your Savior. Your true tranquillity and rest are in God. Therefore rejoice in the Lord!

Hallelujah!