“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:7a (NKJV)
Intercessors should be most joyful because there is joy in God’s presence, in the house of the Lord. Even as we carry heavy burdens and all through intense assignments, even engaging in serious spiritual warfare, we are to walk in joy. When anything less than joy is manifesting in our lives we need to realize that we are either carrying something we’re not meant to carry, or we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus. Joy is an indicator that we are lingering in His presence. Even in the midst of darkness, there is joy in His presence. Joylessness often reveals interceding from the flesh! Not only are we honored to carry His burdens, we are blessed to linger in His presence. But when our assignment ends, be sure to let go and linger in His joy.
Ask the Lord to show you anything that He is no longer wanting you to carry. Be quick to lay it down at His feet. Ask Him to show you where your joy has been depleted, where you’ve taken your eyes off of Him. Ask Him to restore the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). Ask Him to overflow you with so much joy that it literally impacts those around you! Ask Him to release, once again the joy of prayer! Ask God to stir joy in the prayer gatherings at your church. Ask Him to raise up the heavenly vineyards with the wine of joy flowing freely across our city! May the prayer gatherings in Athens become the most joyful places to be!
