BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

B V O V : 2 5 Whatever is happening in your life today, you need to stir up your joy. How can you do that? For starters, you can begin by studying and thinking about God's promises. When you do that, and you gain insight into what God is saying to you, joy comes! It comes because you begin to have a deeper and clearer knowledge of God. It comes because you realize you can go boldly before Him in prayer on the basis of The WORD, and be confi dent your prayers will be answered. If you've been sad about the direction your brother or sister is heading, for example, you can replace your sad thoughts with an understanding of God's promise to your parents in Isaiah 54:13. When you do, joy will come into your heart. Suddenly, instead of crying over what satan is doing to your brother or sister, you start getting excited about what God will do. You'll laugh and say, "You might as well forget it, satan. Just pack it up and go home because the victory is won. The LORD will teach my brothers and sisters the truth and their peace will be great!" Then, when satan comes back at you and says, "Maybe so, but aren't you sorry about how much of their life they've wasted?" you can shoot The WORD right back at him. You can say, "No, I'm not sorry. I don't have to be sorry because Jesus took up my griefs and carried my sorrows (Isaiah 53:4). So, I believe I'll just go ahead and have a good time, thank you!" Proverbs 15:23 says, "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" When you start answering the troubles you're facing with the promises of God, they will release joy in you and run satan off. He can't stand The LORD's joy in you! So stir up that joy. Pray The WORD. Really think about what it's saying. Replace wrong thoughts with God's thoughts, and enjoy winning! so much bigger than money. It's about what God values and how He values it. Here are just some of the things Scripture says have more value than money: Wisdom: "Happy is the man that fi ndeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fi ne gold" (Proverbs 3:13-14). Love: "A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate" (Proverbs 15:17, New Living Translation). Peace and unity in marriage: "It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house" (Proverbs 21:9). What else is a valuable resource? Time. It's worth more than gold. But guess who else knows how valuable time is? Our enemy, the devil. The thief. He's not interested in stealing junk. He's after things of value—including our time. He wants to rob us of our time by getting us to put o God's will—to get us caught up in busyness and fatigue, and keep us from being mindful. The Way Out The way you and I resist the enemy and escape chronic fatigue is by doing the will of God and fi nishing His work. That means understanding and obeying what God has called us, individually, to do—no more, no less. Anything else will open the door to the enemy or lead to chronic fatigue. If you're feeling weary, then it's time to stop what you're doing and ask yourself those words: "Who's idea was this?" If it wasn't God's, then put a hand on your body and pray this out loud: "Chronic fatigue, I resist and rebuke you! I will not have you in my life. I'm strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I draw strength from my union with my Lord. He is my light and my salvation. He is the strength of my life. I will follow His will and fi nish His work alone!" Then take a deep breath and be mindful of your time going forward. It's one of the most valuable resources you have! Send the Devil Running by Kenneth Copeland

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