My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full

John 15:11
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Most of us associate joy with happiness, so it may be surprising to learn that this is not necessarily the case, nor is there even a strong correlation sometimes. The joy of Yshua is to do His Father's will. This did not always result in pleasant outcomes, especially towards the end when He was crucified. Yet He counted this as joy. So our joy need to be similar and the source of our joy is Yshua. Circumstances may cause trouble for us, but our walk and oneness with God shall produce a joy in us that non-believers would not understand.

Rejoice because your names are written in heaven

Luke 10:20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather[f] rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

When we are doing good service for God, whether it is miraculous healings, deliverance or normal church services, we may fall into a trap of thinking we are useful for God. However, it is more important to have a right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification. This is of greater value than how useful we are in service for God. When we walk in His light, it will be natural that He will use us for His purpose.

Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?

John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

God says that when we believe we will see His glory. It is easy to believe when we are at a spiritual high, when everything seems to be going well. However, when there is serious troubles, then that is where our test begins. It can either strengthen our faith or kill it. "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Matthew 11:6). Furthermore, it appears that when we step out in faith, then things happen which causes us to struggle and our vision blurred. This is the time when we need  to have absolute trust in God, since he would not forsake us.

Lord, teach us to pray

Luke 11:1
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

One of the popular misconception is that prayer is only about asking God to give us things. This is similar to what other religions promote about their idols. However, the prayer to the Creator, Lord, Father of All is much more than that. There is no denying to the aspect of prayer where we can ask God and He will give like a Good Father, but there is much more.

Prayer is getting in touch with the Father via the Holy Spirit. It is talking to God, and maintaining that relationship, otherwise it will grow cold and we would lose touch with God. It is to nourish us, to build our character, to acknowledge our lack and hence dependence to God. A commentator said, "prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person's inner nature."

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you

John 12:35
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

At one point, our Lord told His disciples that He will not always be with them. Even though God is present everywhere, there are times when we need to walk alone. So rejoice in the presence of God, and sanctify ourselves as much as we can while we are in a spiritual high with him. The Holy Spirit is always with us. Yet there will be darkness, and yes we can depend on the Holy Spirit, but we need to build a relationship with Him and learn to hear His voice. So that during the dark times we are still in touch with Him.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

Matthew 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Our Lord Yshua promises to give us peace. That peace is unlike any other peace that we find anywhere else. There are certainly much troubling things in the world, which seems to increase every day. Apart from Yshua, the only other peace that people can get is if they are ignorant about the things around them. Given that this is not possible, and the evil is affecting more people, the only peace that works is that given by Yshua. We have to come to Him as we are, and confess our sins, then totally dependent on Him. Then we can look on His face and His peace will surround us, as all confusion is replaced by the confidence in Him.

But I have called you friends

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

Our Lord Yshua calls us His friend. This is extraordinary to most people, even among the people of God, but it should not be too surprising for those who really know God. Back in the Old Testament days, we already see God making a few people his friends and they were not close to perfect people anyway. The two great examples are Abraham and Moses. As part of this friendship, the relationship would involve self-sacrifice. This also means obedience to God, on the people's part. One aspect of this obedience would be to seek out God's will in the various things in our lives and not just fulfilling our own desires.