“The Joy of the Lord is my Strength”. These are the words of a chorus I use to sing when I was much younger. This topic of Joy is one that Jesus is wanting me to stay with for a while longer. Let me give some background. Recently I was asking the two seasoned counselors how they would address the topic of homosexuality with a client? I also added the topic of pornography because both of these are items which clients are “putting on the table”. I was told to think about sexuality first as the topic to address. God gave all of us sexuality and it is a gift from God to be used for creation and pleasure. He gives us guidelines in His Word regarding it.

This morning as I was journaling and asking Jesus what He wanted me to know for today, He asked if I found JOY in sexuality? As I began to actually personalize this question I found myself realizing I’d never found JOY in my sexuality. It has been a torment all of my life. Yes, I find pleasurable moments, but JOY? This topic has been a root of major torment all of my life. As I admitted this to Jesus, He asked me to seek JOY in my sexuality. Instead of resenting it, try seeing it as the gift it is. He then stated that Satan works overtime to keep sexuality in the flesh and feelings category. Here is where man lives most of the time. I can live with gratitude knowing that the pleasure side of sexuality is mine along with the creation side as I look at my family. There is nothing but JOY here. The strength in JOY is found when I realize this gift of God. Satan tempts us in ways of the flesh, but who wants to diminish this JOY by momentary pleasure that then leads to guilt/shame? This gives me an entirely new meaning to THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!

Jesus is never done teaching me and helping me deal with my hang-ups (as Celebrate Recovery labels them). I love Him for this and I can use it to counsel ones in bondage!