JOY
Today's reading:  Philippians 3-4

"Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy..."  Philippians 3:1 NLT

Paul is stating, in this verse, his heart's desire for his new brothers and sisters in Christ.

He knew what they needed.

He also knew what they wanted.

Very, very seldom do the two, needs and wants, overlap.

He knew they would need joy.

Not happiness, which is fleeting and dependent upon outward circumstances.

Not comfort, because muscles, physical and spiritual, are not stretched in sitting.

Not ease, which leads to laziness and there's too, too much needing to be done.

Not health or wealth, because we all tend to forget about God when we have those things.

Paul knew what they needed, because God had placed that knowledge in his heart.

It's what we need, too!