Joy, Part VI

When was the last time you felt joy? When was the last time you felt anything? This world strains us and bears it's heavy weight on us. We often times become numb from it all. We forget what joy feels like. We forget what happiness is and what it feels like to be happy. This is how the world waxes the heart dull and sometimes even turning us bitter against everything.

It is a real struggle in my own life as I wrestle with the world and it's many commitments and demands. When we become numb, we just don't care anymore and we forget how to feel anything. We forget to laugh and live life to it's full. Joy is understanding the gift that is through Jesus Christ and the salvation that He has given to us freely.

Joy is also seeing the good in our lives and knowing God is in control and you are right where He wants you to be. To be content with life no matter the circumstances actually has a powerful effect on our life. Joy is necessary for worship and joy takes faith and a whole lot of it. Faith that tomorrow will be better and hope that things will work out in time. Indeed, (as the word of God says) good things come to those that love God. We should stand on that and count all the things that God has done for us and be thankful for each and every thing. The first step to joy is to realize how happy you are with the life God has given you.

^{Isaiah 55:12}

¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Joy, Part V

To be positive minded, constantly affirming positive thoughts, seems like some idea you would hear in a self help book about the psyche. Yet, positive affirmation is not a new idea. In fact, the idea comes from the Bible. I remember seeing a T.V. documentary on The Secret and it was actually amusing to see non-christians using a technique created by God (straight out of the Bible). They acted as if it was some secret thing that had never been heard of before... something totally new.

Yet, when you delve into it, you see the simple principles of faith that Jesus preached during His own ministry. All they did was take Christ out and called it something "new". At least they were honest when they claimed the secret had been in use for 2,000 years. They don't tell anyone that Jesus was the one who came up with it. Joy in the Lord is so essential for Christians because joy is spawned from our hope and faith in what God has promised us (not only in this life, but the one to come).

The life of joy is also a life of gratitude and contentment.

^{Ecclesiastes 8:15}

¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

Joy, Part IV

Joy is where the power is when it comes to God's divine provision and blessing. The word used in conjunction with joy (that is the by product of true faith and hope) is a key to unlocking God's blessing. We as Gentile Christians are constantly being reminded by Paul that we are to remain in praise and to rejoice at all times. I don't think that this is just simply an act of worship but a means to tap into all He would have for us.

In the Bible there are countless examples of people praying and living using the word of God with great emotion. God seems especially generous in answering prayer when great emotion is applied to our communication with Him. When we pour out our heart to Him or are filled with joy as we thank Him for His blessings, it seems He answers more quickly.

Joy also has a profound effect on our lives and the people around us. Just remember that it must be a true joy. If you don't feel the joy do not try to fake it in front of others because it just comes off all wrong. You have to be truly happy with your life and what God has done for you in order to bring about greater changes in your life.

^{Psalm 126:2}

² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

Joy!, Part III

There is no greater joy than to know Jesus. It can be very hard to stay joyful as the world turns around us and distracts us away from Him. This is why it is always necessary to remind ourselves daily to be thankful and filled with joy no matter what our circumstances are. It certainly is not easy to do by any means but we must always re-assess the value of the gift of Jesus Christ.

Joy is a key that unlocks God's provision and blessing. Faith and trust in God brings joy. True joy is a byproduct of faith because we know God works His wonders for those who love Him.

Psalm 5:11-12

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Joy!, Part II

Joy is the key. A critical key that unlocks God's anointing and power. In the parable of the sower, it is an activator of the word. When the word is heard, understood, and is believed, despite what the world says or what seems physically possible and is received with joy, the power of God is released. You must stay on this joy until you reap the 30, 60, or 100 fold return.

Matthew 13:18-23

18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

The seed sown among thorns becomes unfruitful because of the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth which choke it. These things stifle our joy. Another example of this is found in the story about the son of promise; Isaac. Abraham believed God's promise concerning a son being born to him despite Sarah's baren womb. He stayed thankful and stayed in joy. Concentrating and believing in the promise God made to him and his faith was credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:18-25

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.