Prayer – The Kimberly Joy Show

Know YOU!

On September 23, 2019

DO YOU KNOW YOU?

For those who may not be aware, I have a weekly radio broadcast entitled The Kimberly Joy Show. I am truly thankful to God that November will mark three years I’ve been on Inspiration 1050 AM and 103.1 FM WGRI in Cincinnati, Ohio!

Every week, since the very first show aired, the radio audience hears my personal declaration: “Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself!” It has taken me over 30 years to be able to make that declaration and to make it with confidence. Throughout my life I’ve heard people say, “Love yourself…..Love you…..Be yourself…..Be you!”

The first time I remember being introduced to the notion of loving myself and what that even means was when I heard Whitney Houston sing “The Greatest Love of All”:

“I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be

I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity

Because the greatest
Love of all is happening to me
I found the greatest
Love of all inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all”

What a beautiful song! However, I just have one argument. I don’t believe loving myself is the GREATEST love of all. GOD’S LOVE is the greatest love of all! I John 4:8b says:

“GOD IS LOVE.”

If it weren’t for God, we wouldn’t even know how to love, let alone how to love ourselves. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the song expressing the importance of self-love.

HOW DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOU?

When I say, “Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself,” I say it in that order intentionally. Speaking from personal experience, before I could be me and love me, I had to know me.

Some might believe that you discover who you are as you live life. I would agree with that to a certain extent. For example, there is a woman (let’s call her Bernice) who is a giver. She loves to give to others in need. Bernice discovered this quality about herself early in life. As a child, she was always giving away her toys to other children who didn’t have much. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, her parents would take her and her siblings to a soup kitchen to feed the homeless. She found joy in giving back. So, now as an adult, Bernice continues to give because she is, indeed, a giver.

Needless to say, there’s more to knowing yourself than just living life. Not all experiences are good, and not everything we are taught or shown is healthy or true. For example, there is a young man by the name of Lloyd. Lloyd didn’t have the best upbringing. He was verbally abused by his father. He was told that he was too dumb to graduate from high school and that he would never be successful in life. So, Lloyd grew up believing the words spoken by his father and turned to hustling to make a living. Now, just because Lloyd’s father spoke those ugly words to him didn’t make them true. None of it was true! Unfortunately, Lloyd believed him, without anyone else to teach him differently.

TO KNOW GOD IS TO KNOW YOU

Knowing yourself begins with knowing GOD, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of all mankind, the Creator of every living being, YOUR Creator! And who knows you better than your Creator? After all, God breathed His breath of life into you (Genesis 2:7)!

To know yourself you must know the only true and living God! He is the God of the capital G, not a god made from man’s hands or a god who was once alive and is now dead. He is the Great and Eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27).

You must get to know the God who was, is, and will always be (Revelation 1:8)! Nobody compares to God! Nobody can stand up against God! Nobody can conquer God! He is GOD, and, again, He knows you better than anyone! So, if you want to know who you really are, get to know God, and He will open your eyes to the truth!

“You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32, New Living Translation)

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Chosen

By Kimberly Joy

On May 7, 2019

In Being Chosen by God

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Chosen

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CHOSEN?

When you hear the word “chosen” what comes to mind? In other words, what does it mean to be “chosen”? According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, chosen is defined as “elect; carefully selected; marked for favor or special privilege.”

Now, that we know the definition, to whom does the word “chosen” apply?

This word applies to YOU!

Yes, YOU!

It doesn’t matter where you come from, the color of your skin, how much money you make, or if you have a lot of friends or no friends at all, YOU are chosen! I want you to do something—–take a deep breath…..inhale…..exhale. There’s your proof that you are chosen! If you are living and breathing, it’s because God chose to give you life. Your mother didn’t miscarry you. You didn’t die in infancy. You are alive and well because God allowed it.

WHY DID GOD CHOOSE TO GIVE YOU LIFE?

So, why did God choose to give you life? Let’s go back to the beginning. Genesis 1:26-28 (New Living Translation) say:

“²⁶Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

²⁷So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

²⁸God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”

Let’s consider what God said about the pioneers of the human race, Adam and Eve. First of all, God created them to look and act like Himself. Secondly, He gave them authority over all creatures, even lions, tigers and bears! Thirdly, God told them to reproduce and birth more humans who were to grow up and repeat the cycle. By doing so, they would prove that God is God and God alone!

WHAT PREVENTS ONE FROM LIVING LIKE GOD?

Living in sin or in disobedience to God prevents one from living like God. However, there’s no need to fret because God has STILL chosen you. Although Adam and Eve disobeyed God and forfeited all the blessings He had given them, God had another plan. Romans 5:15 (NLT) says:

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.”

Then Romans 5:18 (NLT) says:

“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.”

So, not only has God chosen to give you life here on earth, He has chosen to give you eternal life. How do I know? You’re reading this article right now. This is not a coincidence. It’s not a mistake. God is speaking to you! God wants you to receive His grace and gift of salvation by believing in His Son Jesus.

God has given each of us free will, so you have the right to ignore this message. However, I pray you don’t. Instead, I pray you freely choose Jesus. But, don’t do it for me. Don’t do it for your family. Don’t do it for the church. Rather, do it for YOU!

Choose Jesus to not only be your Savior, but choose Him to be Lord of your life. Doing things your way is not working. Living in sin is taking a toll on your mental and physical health. As a result, you’re getting tired. And do you know why you’re getting tired? Deep down inside you know God has chosen you. So, I encourage you to stop fighting the inner calling. Instead, surrender your all to the Lord. As II Corinthians 6:2b (King James Version) says:

“…..Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Today Is a Good Day!

By Kimberly Joy

On April 19, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY: WHAT DOES GOOD FRIDAY REPRESENT?

Today is a good day! It’s Friday! And it’s not just Friday; it’s Good Friday! Good Friday represents the day Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. Now, it’s not to suggest that this is the actual day He died. It simply represents it!

WHAT WERE JESUS’ FINAL WORDS BEFORE HE DIED?

As was mentioned in the previous article “The Passion of the Christ,” Jesus endured great suffering, more than we could ever fathom, in order for us to be saved from sin and eternal damnation. According to Luke 23:46 (New International Version), His final words were “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” He then breathed His last breath and died.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit!”

While Jesus was on earth, He lived as a man. In other words, although He is divine, He experienced what it’s like to be human. He entered this world by way of a natural birth. He was raised by Mary and her husband Joseph. He ate, slept, cried and got angry. He was lied on, ridiculed, mishandled and abused. Satan even tempted Him, but as Hebrews 4:15 states, Jesus still did not sin.

WHAT HAPPENS TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHEN HE OR SHE DIES?

When an individual dies, there is a separation of the body, soul and spirit. In Genesis 3:19, God told Adam that because he came from the dust, one day he would return to the dust. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV) also says:

“…the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Then, the soul, which consists of one’s will, mind and emotions experiences eternal life or eternal death. Matthew 10:28 (New Living Translation) states:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

I share those scriptures to reiterate what happened to Jesus during His last moments on the cross. He left His human body and committed His Spirit back to God. He let go and died.

Jesus’s crucifixion marked the end of His work on earth, and He did a great work! Everything He did serves as examples of what we as believers are to do today. Jesus taught and preached to many. He healed the blind, deaf, mute, crippled and paralyzed. He healed those with incurable diseases and resurrected the dead. He even embraced the poor and castaways.

Missionaries having Bible study in a small village

HOW EXACTLY DID JESUS DIE?

When Jesus was finally arrested, He didn’t put up a fight. Why? He knew it was His time to die. Therefore, as He hung on the cross, He committed His Spirit back to God the Father. In other words, Jesus CHOSE to die in that moment. Men didn’t kill Him. His enemies didn’t take Him out. Satan couldn’t even destroy Jesus.

Our pastor Apostle Ron Banks often states that if any other human being had been beaten the way Jesus was, he or she would have died before going to the cross. In fact, Jesus wasn’t just beaten, He was flogged. In other words, He was beaten with a whip containing sharp pieces of metal. So, every time the whip hit His body, it ripped His flesh. Nevertheless, despite the severe beating, He still didn’t die. Jesus said in John 10:17-18 (NLT):

“…I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again. ¹⁸No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again….”

Just as Jesus gave up His life and committed His Spirit to God, we are to give up our sinful lives and commit our all to God. That is the greatest way in which we can show our appreciation for His sacrifice. Many of us follow rituals during this holiday season. We give up something for Lent. We hold fish frys. We preach “The Seven Last Words of Jesus” on Good Friday. We shop for the perfect Easter outfit. We go to the barber shop and hair salon. We take pictures of our children sitting on the Easter bunny’s lap, give them Easter baskets and let them participate in the annual Easter egg hunt. Finally, we fill up the church pews on Easter Sunday.

Now, I’m not criticizing said rituals. We enjoy them! They bless us! However, what matters most to God is that we surrender our lives to Him and strive daily to please Him. That is THEE greatest way we can say, “Thank You Jesus for sacrificing Your life for mine!”

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The Passion of the Christ

By Kimberly Joy

On April 11, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST: WHY DO WE HONOR JESUS?

Next week, churches everywhere will be celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although we, as believers, should praise Him every day for what He has done for us, Easter or, as some Christians like to term it, Resurrection Sunday is a special day to honor Him.

Why do we honor Jesus? He sacrificed His life for us! The word “passion” is often used in reference to the suffering and death of Jesus, which is why award-winning actor Mel Gibson titled his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.

Many consider this film to be the most accurate portrayal of Jesus’ crucifixion. However, even with the graphic details, we’ll never know just how much pain Jesus experienced in order for us to be saved.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT JESUS’ SUFFERING?

Jesus was betrayed and handed over to His enemies by Judas, one of His very own disciples, for 30 pieces of silver, which would be equivalent to $600 (Matthew 26:15).
When Jesus was arrested, His disciples deserted Him. Even Peter, who had claimed that he would willingly die with Jesus, denied knowing Him on three separate occasions (Mark 14:50; Luke 22:54-62).
At His trial, Jesus was falsely accused, so His enemies could justify executing Him (Matthew 27:11-26).
Jesus was spit in His face (Matthew 26:67).
Jesus was slapped and punched repeatedly (Matthew 26:67).
Jesus was ridiculed, mocked and even cursed (Matthew 27:29).
Jesus was flogged or severely beaten with a leather strap containing bits of sharp metal (John 19:1).
Jesus was stripped of His clothes which were gambled away (Matthew 27:35).
Jesus had a crown of thorns placed on His head (Matthew 27:29).
Jesus was nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:35).
Jesus was pierced in His side as blood and water gushed out (John 19:34).
Jesus was humiliated as He hung on the cross for the public to witness (Matthew 27:37).

DID GOD ABANDON JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS?

According to Matthew 27:46 (King James Version), during the crucifixion around three o’clock in the afternoon, in the midst of His agonizing pain, Jesus cried out as loud as He could:

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

But, wait! There’s one problem! Abandoning His only begotten Son doesn’t sound like God!!!! After all, Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV) says:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

King David also declared in Psalms 23:1 (KJV):

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Then in verse four he said:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

The scriptures don’t lie! God is omnipresent! God was there! Nevertheless, in those final hours, Jesus, who was in a fleshly body capable of experiencing pain and suffering, felt abandoned.

Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? That He wasn’t listening? That He didn’t care about your suffering?

Well, that’s how the man Jesus felt! Prior to this moment, Jesus always declared, “I and My Father are one,” (John 10:30, KJV). Jesus only spoke what His Father told Him to speak. Not once did He disobey Him. He always found time to get alone and pray. Everything Jesus did was to glorify God because They are one! They are in sync! But now, He didn’t feel in sync with the Father.

WHY DIDN’T GOD RESPOND TO JESUS WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS?

In those final hours on the cross, God the Father didn’t respond to Jesus. He didn’t comfort Him. He didn’t give Him medicine to ease His pain. He didn’t swoop down to rescue Jesus. He didn’t even whisper words of comfort in His ear. “I’m here Son! I’m here!”

Jesus had to fulfill God’s divine plan. He had to endure the suffering for a crime He did NOT commit! He had to sacrifice His life for us and for those who were crucifying, mocking, beating, spitting on, and cursing Him. He had to serve as our Mediator and Intercessor and stand in the gap for mankind. And this process didn’t involve any short cuts. He realized this when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the garden, He experienced severe mental pain, sadness, and uneasiness. He felt like He was dying. Therefore, He had to pray fervently in order to gain the strength necessary to face the cross.

Jesus suffered for us all, so we might have a chance at eternal life. I include the word “might” because we each have to choose Him. We don’t just choose Him when we first get saved, but EVERY DAY we should choose Jesus. Let’s always choose to follow, obey and honor Him. And why do we honor Jesus again? He chose us!!!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

A Gospel Legend: The Dr. Bobby Jones Story

By Kimberly Joy

On February 4, 2019

In Black History

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Dr. Bobby Jones

A GOSPEL LEGEND

For Black History Month, it is important that I use my platform to honor African-Americans who have paved and are, yet, paving the way for others. Since we, as a people, were oppressed for so long, and are still facing challenges today, I want to, not only honor our pioneers, but inspire those who are reading this article.

As my first Black History Month tribute for 2019, I want to honor a Gospel legend who has opened doors and provided a platform for many Gospel artists.

THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

Dr. Bobby Jones was born to Jim and Augusta Jones on September 18, 1938, in Henry County, Tennessee. Growing up in a poor, rural community, he sang in the church choir. With big dreams, he excelled academically and graduated from high school at the young age of 15. As soon as he could, he moved to Nashville where he taught himself how to play the piano and worked his way through college by playing for churches.

A few years later, Dr. Jones graduated from Tennessee State University, at age 19, with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He went on to receive a Masters of Education degree from Tennessee State University and a Doctorate of Education degree from Vanderbilt University. He also graduated from Payne’s Theological Seminary with a Doctorate of Theology degree. Dr. Jones became a lifetime member of the historically black fraternity Phi Beta Sigma.

**Dr. Jones began his career as a teacher**

Education was obviously very important to Dr. Jones. He was a teacher for the St. Louis Public Schools from 1959 to 1965, and for the Nashville Metropolitan Schools from 1966 to 1968. He then became a textbook consultant for McGraw-Hill Publishers and taught at Tennessee State University from 1974 to 1986.

BOBBY JONES GOSPEL PREMIERED ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

While teaching, Dr. Jones helped develop the idea for a Black Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. During this time, he introduced the television pilot for what became known as Bobby Jones Gospel. On a shoe-string budget, Bobby Jones Gospel was a local show that featured singers from churches in the region. The show ran in Nashville from 1976 to 1980. Concerning his new show, Dr. Jones said, “I just thought I could do it. I always wanted to, growing up watching Johnny Carson and all those guys.”

Dr. Jones also created, produced, and hosted Bobby Jones’ World, a magazine-style show that ran from 1978 to 1984. Fortunately, his dream of having a national show came to life in 1980, when he got a call from Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, better known as BET. Bobby Jones Gospel premiered on Sunday mornings in January 1980, and quickly became a success.

**Early days of** **Bobby** **Jones** **Gospel**

Bobby Jones Gospel helped launch the careers of many Gospel artists. Record labels viewed the show as a vehicle to get new singers and choirs in the spotlight. Often referred to as the “Ed Sullivan” of Gospel music, Dr. Jones welcomed everyone to the Gospel stage, from new artists to Gospel legends. Singer Yolanda Adams, who is known for blending gospel with smooth jazz and contemporary R&B had this to say about Dr. Jones. “He didn’t just…..give me the platform. He also validated what I was doing. He never said, ‘You need to change your look.’ He never said, ‘You need to calm your jazz stuff down,’ because no one was doing that at the time.”

THE HARDEST WORKING MAN

In time, Bobby Jones Gospel, became the highest rated show on BET and the longest running show in the history of cable television. During the show’s 35 years on the air, Dr. Jones kept busy with other projects. Some of these projects include, but are not limited to, Video Gospel, Bobby Jones Gospel Classics, Bobby Jones Presents, Let’s Talk Church, and Bobby Jones Next Generation. In addition, Dr. Jones has earned numerous awards including, Dove awards, Grammy awards, Stellar awards, and Trumpet awards.

**Dr. Bobby Jones at the Stellar Awards**

After serving viewing audiences all over the world for 35 years, Dr. Jones decided it was time to retire. Some may think the show was cancelled, but on the contrary, it was his decision to bring the show to a close in 2015. The idea of Bobby Jones Gospel no longer appearing on television screens on Sunday mornings was a hard concept to grasp. I, personally, was surprised. Fans even signed a petition for the network to keep the show on the air. Nevertheless, Dr. Jones had made up his mind. He said he was getting older and felt it was time to move on and make room for others. The final episode of Bobby Jones Gospel aired in July 2016.

I share Dr. Bobby Jones’ story because he is a prime example of what happens when you strive diligently for your dreams. Radio personality Tom Joyner was correct when he honored Dr. Jones with the “Hardest Working Man Award” in 2003. After doing this research, I realize there was a lot I didn’t know about Dr. Jones. He has accomplished so much during his 79 years on earth, and I now admire him even more! His story inspires me to work even harder towards those dreams God has placed inside my heart. And I pray his story inspires you to do the same! When we do our part, like Dr. Jones has done, God will do the rest! Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version) says:

“²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…..²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

To learn more about Dr. Bobby Jones, you may go to: npr.org, thehistorymakers.org, and bobbyjonespresents.com.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Be Committed

By Kimberly Joy

On January 22, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Commit To Telling Others About Jesus

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE COMMITTED?

God wants us to be committed to Him. In other words, we are to be wholeheartedly dedicated or completely loyal to serving God. In order to be truly committed to God, we must first accept His Son Jesus into our lives. Now, some may ask, “Why do we HAVE to accept Jesus? Why can’t we just bypass that part of the process?” According to the book of Genesis, once Adam and Even disobeyed God, sin, which is defined as wickedness, wrongdoing, or transgression, was then allowed to run rampant. As a result, man became spiritually disconnected from God.

HOW IS JESUS OUR MEDIATOR?

Because of the separation between God and mankind, Jesus had to step in and serve as our Mediator. What is a mediator? I Timothy 2:5-6 (New Living Translation) explain it well. The verses say:

⁵For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.

Imagine you are in court to prove your innocence. Jesus is your mediator or defense attorney because you have chosen to repent of your sins and confess Him as your Lord and Savior. He stands before God the Judge, on your behalf, declaring that you are innocent of all charges!

“I find the defendant NOT GUILTY!“

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A PREACHER TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS?

Once we commit to God by accepting Jesus into our lives, God then wants us to commit to telling others about His love and gift of salvation. Just before Jesus left His earthly ministry to ascend back to Heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father, He said to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 (King James Version):

¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I know what you’re thinking! You’re not like the men who walked with Jesus. You’re not a preacher, pastor, or prophet. You’re just a regular church-goer. That’s perfectly okay! You don’t have to hold any of those clergical positions. You may not have a church, a television ministry, a radio ministry, or an outreach ministry, but what you do have is a STORY! That’s right! God wants you to tell YOUR STORY!

Tell someone your story

For instance, perhaps you were once addicted to alcohol, drugs, or both, until Jesus saved you and set you free. Maybe you endured abuse while growing up, but Jesus came into your life and healed you mentally and emotionally. There might have been a time in your life when you struggled with suicidal thoughts, like so many people today. Fortunately, by the grace of God, you have been delivered from those ugly thoughts of death and now see yourself through God’s eyes. Perhaps, like me, you used to feel lonely and insecure, but when you put all your trust in Jesus, He turned your life around and gave you a newfound purpose for living!

WHOM DO YOU TELL ABOUT JESUS?

Whatever your story is, God wants you to share it! With whom do you share your story? You share your story with those around you, like family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, the person you’re sitting next to in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, and SOCIAL MEDIA! Although some use social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in a negative light, the internet is a perfect tool for spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ! In fact, I personally believe that we, as believers, should focus more on posting the positive, rather than the negative, simply because we should always represent Jesus. Non-believers should be able to recognize that we are Christians by our conversations, behavior, and treatment of others.

People pay attention to what we do, more so than what we say. For example, after accepting Jesus into my life at the age of seven, I strove to live a godly life at a young age amidst peer pressure. I can recall periods in my life when I only listened to Gospel music and carried my Bible in high school. Because of my decision to be devoted to God, I didn’t have many friends, and I even felt alone. I sometimes questioned if being a young Christian was worth sacrificing my social life. Needless to say, I got my answer my senior year of high school. Since it was our final year before venturing into adulthood, it was customary for us to sign each other’s yearbooks. When classmates signed my yearbook, I was amazed at some of their comments! Here’s an example:

“Kim, I really admire you! You never gave into peer pressure. Stay the same. Never change. Keep carrying your Bible and going to church. God bless you!”

I came to realize that those moments of loneliness and feelings of rejection were all worth it, if it meant being an example or role model to someone. I am grateful for my experiences and wouldn’t go back and change a thing!

My aunt, my mother’s eldest sister, Pearlie I. Ealey-Forrest, a.k.a. Aunt Inez, has dedicated her life to telling others about Jesus. She is the author of several books, including Are All of the Children Inside?, a biography of their father Jeremiah Ealey, and God Knows The Way That I Take, a book about her own personal journey. Both books can currently be purchased on amazon.com.

AMAZON.COM

Most recently she has written another book, which I had the pleasure of helping to edit. In the book, she shares her many experiences of leading people to Jesus Christ. Once the book is published, I will encourage everyone to buy it, as well. It provides much needed spiritual enlightenment and inspiration!

BE COMMITTED

In this brand new year, another year God has blessed you to see, I encourage you to be committed, to be wholeheartedly dedicated to God. Be committed to sharing your testimonies with others, so that they too will recognize the goodness of the Lord. Jesus said it best as He delivered His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:16 (KJV):

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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I Was Born In Sin

By Kimberly Joy

On January 16, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW (Commit Your Life to Jesus)

WHY WAS I BORN IN SIN?

(The following passage is an excerpt taken from an upcoming book.)

“…..I stepped into the middle aisle of the sanctuary, as my skinny legs shook like tree limbs on a windy, autumn day, and made my way down to the front. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I just knew HE was calling me…..When I got to the foot of the altar, I knelt down, bowed my head, and folded my hands to pray, just like I always did every night before going to sleep…..[But] Instead [of praying], I just cried. However, it wasn’t my typical cry, the kind that occurs after a spanking or after falling off my bicycle and scraping my knee. These weren’t even tears I mustered up so the adults present would think I was being sincere. These were REAL tears streaming down my little [brown] face. Even though I had been in church from the time I was born and had even been baptized by my great-uncle the late Bishop Timothy Smith, Sr. in the baptismal pool of our family church Mt. Olive Holy Temple, I still had not confessed my sins and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. It’s not that I was rejecting the King of kings and Lord of lords. My young mind just didn’t understand why I needed Him, until that very moment when He revealed Himself to me….”

The little girl in that story was me! On this particular day, at 7 or 8 years of age, I made the best decision of my life when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.

Some, who hear my story, may say I was too young to really know what I was doing. But, I was not too young! As I mentioned in the story, in that moment, Jesus opened my young mind to realize that, I, along with everyone else, was born a sinner. Romans 3:23 (King James Version) says:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…..”

Why are all born in sin? According to the third chapter of Genesis, the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God. When God created Adam, he instructed him not to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He could eat from all the other trees in the Garden of Eden, but he and Eve were to leave that particular tree alone. If they chose to eat from that tree, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17)! Does that mean they would drop dead the moment they took a bite of the fruit? No, rather they would immediately experience a spiritual death and, in time, a physical one. Without God’s grace and mercy, the final result would be eternal destruction or hell. Unfortunately, they allowed Satan, who was speaking through the serpent, to convince them to disobey the voice of God, opening the door for sin to run rampant.

Prior to making this foolish and detrimental choice, Adam and Eve were created as perfect beings. For instance, they were immortal, and with that came perfect health, weight, skin, and hair, along with constant energy. They had no need for clothing because they were unashamed. Moreover, they were the most intelligent creatures alive because God intentionally created them in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Sadly, they gave all that up for a piece of fruit!

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN GOD CONFRONTED ADAM AND EVE?

What happened when God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience? When they ate the forbidden fruit, they immediately felt guilty and used fig leaves to try to cover up the parts of their bodies that gave them the most shame.

Then, when they sensed God looking for them, they did their best to hide from Him. Of course, they soon learned that there is no hiding from the Creator, the One who knows all and sees all! When God finally confronted them about their disobedience, they tried to shift the blame. First, Adam said (Genesis 3:12, New Living Translation):

“It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

When God questioned Eve, she replied (Genesis 3:13, NLT):

“The serpent deceived me. That’s why I ate it.”

What the first couple failed to realize is God doesn’t want to hear our excuses for why we sin and continue to sin. He only wants our confession and repentance.

Continuing with my story……….

“Although no one accompanied me to the altar, I wasn’t left alone for long. My second grade teacher Mrs. Pope soon knelt beside me, put her arm around me and, with tears in her own eyes, led me in what is often termed ‘The Sinner’s Prayer’”……“The Sinner’s Prayer” is inspired by I John 1:9 (KJV), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” and Romans 10:9 (New International Version), “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

WHY DID GOD GIVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON?

Although Adam and Eve messed up, God had another plan! He gave His only begotten Son Jesus (John 3:16) as a living sacrifice to die on our behalf, and three days later He rose again.

So, when we receive Jesus, we are made righteous before God and are guaranteed eternal life once we leave this earth, the way God originally intended.

To begin this brand new year of 2019 on a positive note, I encourage you to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If you already received Jesus, but are not where you used to be spiritually, I encourage you to rededicate your life to Him. Furthermore, don’t just ask Jesus to save you from eternal damnation, but allow Him to be Lord of your life, in control of your life, again the way God originally intended!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Be Strong!

By Kimberly Joy

On December 24, 2018

In Inner Strength

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: WHY BELIEVERS IN CHRIST NEED INNER STRENGTH

WHY DO BELIEVERS IN CHRIST NEED TO BE STRONG?

In the third chapter of Ephesians, Paul prayed inner strength for the Gentiles (non-Jews) who had become believers in Christ. Paul, who was appointed as an apostle of Jesus Christ, knew all too well that inner strength was vital for Christians. During this era, men, like Paul, faced much persecution. Paul detailed some of his suffering in II Corinthians 11:23-27 (New Living Translation):

^“23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served Him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. ²⁴Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. ²⁶I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.²⁷I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”

Today, most specifically here in the United States, we, as believers, are not threatened with physical persecution, like the apostle Paul. Nevertheless, we are persecuted. For instance, perhaps you have endured lies, ridicule, and, even, rejection for believing in Jesus. Whatever the case may be, through it all, you must be strong!

HOW DO BELIEVERS WITHSTAND OPPOSING VIEWS?

Besides persecution, we need inner strength to withstand the opposing views of non-believers:

Jesus isn’t real!

Jesus isn’t the Son of God!

Jesus isn’t God!

Jesus was only a prophet!

Jesus didn’t die for our sins!

Jesus didn’t rise from the dead!

If you’re not strong in your faith, you can be easily led astray by those who don’t follow Christ. Therefore, you have to be strengthened daily through prayer, worship, and God’s Word. You will then know how to “[cast] down imaginations, and every high thing that [exalts] itself against the knowledge of God, and [bring] into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” (II Corinthians 10:5, King James Version). In other words, in time we learn how to dismiss words of doubt from naysayers with God’s Word, just as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4).

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR BELIEVERS?

As Paul prayed inner strength for the Gentile believers, he said in Ephesians 3:16-17, NLT):

“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Once we invite Jesus Christ to live in our hearts, through our faith in Him—believing He died for our sins and rose from the dead—we should also invite the Holy Spirit to fill us. At our church Power and Faith Ministries in Fairifield, Ohio, while we believe in accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we also believe in being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, as the believers did on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

Each time we pray in our heavenly language (as we also like to call it since it comes from God), our spirits are strengthened.

In Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) Paul then said:

“18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Overtime, we recognize more and more just how great God’s love is, and His love becomes strong in us.

WHY IS LOVE SO IMPORTANT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?

Love is important in the body of Christ because GOD IS LOVE (I John 4:16). Since God is love, His love strengthens us. Please recognize that it’s GOD’S love we need, not worldly love. What do I mean? Worldly love is conditional, which says, “I love you IF…” On the other hand, the love of God says, “I love you IN SPITE OF….”

If we’re full of GOD, then we’re full of LOVE; if we’re full of LOVE, then we’re full of GOD, thereby being strengthened.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment by some of the Pharisees or religious leaders in Matthew 22:37b-40 (KJV), He replied:

“37…..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

When we’re full of love—GOD—we won’t do anything to hurt God and each other.

DO WE LOVE AUTOMATICALLY?

Once we are saved, do we possess unconditional love automatically? No, not necessarily. Thus, we must follow the example of Jesus which is displayed so vividly in the Bible. What was His biggest demonstration of love? Absolutely! His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection! Naturally, we are not expected to follow in His footsteps and sacrifice our lives for all mankind on a rugged cross. Nevertheless, we can show the love of God in other ways. Just as Jesus exemplified, while He lived as a man here on Earth, we can love through our kindness, encouragement, helping hand, generosity, and selfless prayers. In a nutshell, we must CHOOSE to love!

A RECIPE FOR INNER STRENGTH

Again, how do we gain inner strength, so we may be able to stand up against persecution, the views of non-believers, and sin?

Repent of our sins and receive Jesus into our hearts as Savior and Lord
Be filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
Spend time praying to and worshiping God
Study and obey the Scriptures
Walk in God’s love

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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God Will Empower You With Inner Strength

By Kimberly Joy

On December 17, 2018

In Inner Strength

(THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: God Will Empower You With Inner Strength)

GOD WILL EMPOWER YOU WITH INNER STRENGTH

The above words are part of a prayer the apostle Paul prayed on behalf of the Gentiles in Ephesians 3:16 (New Living Translation). In the beginning of the chapter, Paul informed them that God had chosen him to minister to them.

Who were the Gentiles? A gentile was any person who was not a Jew. According to Biblical history, the Jews were identified as God’s chosen people. As a result, the Jewish nation viewed the Gentiles as inferior and called them heathens. Fortunately, Jesus changed all that! In Ephesians 3:6 (NLT) Paul said:

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”

WHO IS SALVATION FOR?

Paul revealed to the Gentiles what wasn’t revealed before. Salvation (from sin, death, and hell) and all the blessings attached to it are not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. John 3:16 (King James Version) declares:

“For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Our Heavenly Father sent His beloved Son out of love for ALL humanity, not just a select few.

As Paul continued in the third chapter of Ephesians, he encouraged the Gentiles to not worry about him because of his sufferings. The apostle Paul endured much suffering and persecution for preaching about Jesus and, now, for preaching to the Gentiles.

Like Paul, what have YOU gone through or are going through now as a result of taking a stand for Christ? What type of persecution have you faced or are facing for telling others about Jesus?

What have you suffered or are yet suffering because you’ve chosen to live holy before God? What have you sacrificed by interceding for others? Whatever it is, don’t lose heart! Don’t give up! Instead, I pray you are strengthened!

Paul didn’t allow his suffering and persecution to deter him because he was INSIDE STRONG. In other words, he was strong mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Paul lived by faith in God. He knew he was called to be a servant of Jesus Christ, and he was, wholeheartedly, committed to his calling.

As you embark upon this new year, God says you must be INSIDE STRONG. God wants to do something new in your life. He wants to reveal more of His will to you. Although you may say you’re blessed now, God wants to bless you in an even greater way. More importantly, God wants to use you to reach more souls for His Kingdom. However, none of that will be accomplished if you’re not mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepared.

HOW DO YOU BECOME INSIDE STRONG?

Again, let’s consider the apostle Paul. He boldly declared:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13, New King James Version).

He was letting every believer know that our strength comes from the Lord. Needless to say, in order to be made INSIDE STRONG we must first repent of our sins and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus must be our LORD as much as He is our Savior. There are those who want Jesus to save their souls from eternal damnation, but don’t want Him to be Lord over their lives. However, it doesn’t work that way. Praying the prayer of salvation is only the beginning. We must build a strong relationship with God through worship, prayer, and His Word.

To say that we must live by the Word of God may sound like a cliche, but it is anything but that! James 1:22-25 say:

“22 But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect Law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to stop focusing so much on the outer man, what the public can see. Do not concern yourself with what people think about you. Instead, be more concerned about God’s view. Take this time to focus on the inner man—your mind, your emotions, and your spirit. As you are strengthened on the inside, the outside will fall in line.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

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Inside Strong

By Kimberly Joy

On December 10, 2018

In Inner Strength

(THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Inside Strong)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE INSIDE STRONG?

Paul, the apostle, said to the people to whom he was ministering at this particular time:

“…..I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in Heaven and on Earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit,” (Ephesians 3:14b-16, New Living Translation).

2018 is almost over! As you embark upon a brand new year, remember these two words:

God says, “You must be INSIDE STRONG!”

My personal motto is:

KNOW YOURSELF!
BE YOURSELF!
LOVE YOURSELF!

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Sounds pretty inspiring, don’t you think? Sounds easy, right? NOT! I’ve come to realize during this journey called LIFE that living out my personal motto or declaration can only be achieved if I am INSIDE STRONG!

What does it mean for an individual to be INSIDE STRONG?

INSIDE – the part within; inner man; inward nature, thoughts, and/or feelings; within one’s heart, mind, and spirit

STRONG – having great physical, intellectual, or moral power (morally sound, doing what’s right)

As followers of Christ, it’s necessary to be strong within our hearts, minds, and spirits.

WHAT DETERMINES THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE?

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Wow! That’s a very powerful statement, isn’t it? As the scripture states, we are to guard or “protect, nourish, and care for” our hearts. I believe “heart” in this verse has two meanings. For one, we must take care of the heart or that organ that pumps blood throughout the body. We do so by eating right, exercising, sleeping, and relaxing.

Secondly, we must take care of ourselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Why is this so important? How well you protect your “heart” determines the person you will be and the life you will live. Imagine the life of a person whose heart is filled with anger, unforgiveness, hatred, or even depression. On the other hand, imagine the life of an individual who has allowed God to heal his or her heart and is, therefore, now filled with joy, peace, and love!

DO YOU NEGLECT THE INNER MAN?

Some, including Christians, unfortunately, neglect the inner man. I know because I’ve been guilty! Why, you ask? Our primary focus is the outer man. We spend more time on our outward appearance, like our clothes and hair. Now, don’t get me wrong! I like to look nice just as much as the next person, and I keep my regular hair appointments. Nevertheless, it becomes a problem when you’re willing to stay broke spending money in boutiques and Nike outlets and on cars and houses you really can’t afford just to keep up a particular persona.

In fact, the fashion industry alone is worth billions of dollars. Coresight Research, a research network of global retailers, brands, and innovators, estimates that the worldwide clothing market is worth approximately $278 billion thanks to those of us who use clothes and shoes to make up for what is lacking on the inside.

There are those who fail to protect their hearts because they’re too busy performing for others. What do I mean? Well, let’s consider social media. Personally, I believe that sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be very beneficial when it comes to connecting on both personal and professional levels. However, I find that one of the downsides to the internet is that some people use it to portray themselves to be something they aren’t. Although I don’t believe it’s necessary to display all your dirty laundry via the internet, I don’t think you need to lie either. For example, several months ago, an individual I know fairly well, announced their new marriage on social media. The announcement was news to me. I wasn’t even aware this individual was dating anyone. When I did further investigating into the matter, they revealed that they only made that particular post to impress their “friends” and followers. Initially, I laughed it off, but when I think about it now, I think it’s sad that a person feels the need to embellish the truth just for “likes” from people who don’t even know them, let alone care about them.

What people think about you is not important. I’m not talking about putting your best foot forward in a job interview or performing your duties at work to the best of your ability. Rather, you don’t need to go out of your way to make others accept and like you. This is a lesson I had to learn. If people like you, they like you. If they don’t, then they just don’t. What matters is that God loves you, and the Bible let’s us know that He, indeed, loves you and me! Therefore, He is the one we must focus on pleasing.

WHAT DOES MAN SEE VS. WHAT GOD SEES?

One day, God told the prophet Samuel to stop mourning for King Saul because He had chosen to remove him as king of Israel due to his disobedience. God then instructed Samuel to go to a man by the name of Jesse (who was later identified as an ancestor of Jesus) and his sons because one of them would be the next king. When Samuel met with Jesse and his sons, he immediately thought the next king was Jesse’s son Eliab. Why? He was the oldest, and it only made sense for God to select the first born. Just when Samuel was about to anoint Eliab as the next king, God said NO! God said to Samuel:

“….Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (I Samuel 16:7b, NLT).

In fact, God said no to all seven of Jesse’s eldest sons. To everyone’s surprise, God chose the youngest son David to be the next king of Israel and instructed Samuel to anoint him while his father and brothers looked on (I Samuel 16).

Again, as children of God, let’s not be concerned about impressing people. Rather, let’s be most concerned about impressing God. How do we impress God? We impress Him by first repenting of our sins, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and building a relationship with Him through worship, prayer, and obeying His Word. When we focus on pleasing God, that’s when we become INSIDE STRONG!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Tag: Prayer Page 1 of 6

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