Good Morning Girls!  For more than a week now we have been looking at what it means to be "godly" according to God's Word.  Up to now we have been looking at the characteristics of the godly.  In quick review, some of them are: they give good counsel, think before speaking, are an encouragement to others, honest, have integrity, are well rooted and bear their own fruit, and they are as bold as lions.
As we wrap this up today I want to look at the results of living a godly life.  Remember last week when we talked about if-then statements and the cause and effect concept?  I guess you could look at the characteristics listed above as the "cause qualities" and the upcoming list as the "effect qualities".  Here they are:
Proverbs 10:6 The godly are showered with blessing
Proverbs 10:7 We have happy memories of the godly
Proverbs 10:16 The earnings of the godly enhance their lives
Proverbs 10:24 The hopes of the godly will be granted
Proverbs 10:30 The godly will never be disturbed
And my personal favorite:
Proverbs 13:9  The life of the godly is full of light and joy
What's so great about this one you ask?  Well, unless you truly understand this one, I don't believe you can be, or will have the other cause and effect qualities in your life!  You see, when it says our lives will be full of light and joy, it is not saying that we will have an easy, happy go lucky, everything always going according to our plan life.  No, I believe it is saying much more than that.
 In John 8:12 it says Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."  Acts 13:52 says And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  It also says in Galatians 5:22 that the Holy Spirit produces joy in our lives.  From these versus we can see that Jesus is the light, and the Holy Spirit brings joy.
 So another way of reading Proverbs 13:9 is: The life of the godly is filled with Jesus and the Holy Spirit!  Hallelujah!  See Girls, when it is all said and done, it all goes back to Jesus!  You don't have to stress out trying to exhibit the qualities we have looked at!  You don't have to feel ashamed if you are still feeling timid and not bold.  There is no need to beat yourself up if you speak without thinking, hurt someone's feelings, or struggle with your faith sometimes.  It's okay.  It does not mean you have lost your "godliness"!   The one thing, the only thing you need to do is let Jesus and the Holy Spirit fill your life.  Once you ask Jesus into your heart, and are baptized with the Holy Spirit everything else will come to pass.  Let Jesus, who started this work in you complete it!  Do not waste your efforts trying to "work" your way into godly living.  Jesus already did that for you on the cross!  All you need to do is believe in Him!

Proverbs 13:9  The life of the godly is full of light (Jesus) and joy (the Holy Spirit)

Love you all-
Jen