…and your joy no man taketh from you. John 16:22 (KJV)

            Football season is in full swing. Fridays are for wearing purple and black, and Sunday afternoons are for crocheting while the game is on. I keep one eye on my stitches and the other on the screen anticipating touchdowns. My understanding of the game is fair, yet I can see its application to spiritual warfare. Sometimes we believers must battle offensively to push the enemy out of our territory. At other times we must be defenders of what God has given us. Today, I am wearing my defensive coach’s hat because it’s time to review the playbook.

            The job of the defense is to protect the team’s sacred territory – the end zone. There are several ways to accomplish this by tackling or blocking an opponent, sacking the quarterback, and best of all, intercepting the ball and running it into the opponent’s end zone. We must protect the precious promises God gave us the moment we accepted His Son Jesus as our Savior. One promise is for His joy to stay in us and overflow.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11 KJV)

Living life on this earth with the struggles that are around and within us can drain the joy right out of you. Be watchful because Satan’s tactic is to take full advantage of us especially when we are at our weakest. One strategy to protect your joy—keep reading, studying and meditating on the Word. 

But Jesus answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

Another strategy—stay connected to Him through prayer and ask what is needed according to God’s word. Prayer will keep you united with God.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done. (John 15:7 KJV)

My last coaching tip is to read aloud Psalms 146-150 to pump up your praise muscles to God. These songs to God are to remind you that you belong to and are loved by a great and mighty Father. By the time you finish, your joy will be explosive. 

With the Word of God, prayer and praise, your defensive line will be strong, tight and ready for the enemy. Our salvation has so much more for us than just being saved. It includes all of God’s promises and gifts found in His Word, and a relationship with a Living God. Joy is one of those promises. It belongs to us. When we endeavor do all that God has called us to do, no one can take away our joy. It’s yours. Protect it.

Jesus, thank You for Your joy within me. Nothing in the world can give me this kind of joy. Help me to cherish it, protect it and let it overflow as a blessing to others. Amen.