J/O/Y
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. ( Psalm 100)
Have you ever found yourself smiling or singing? Not for any particular reason just because? That's how I like to live my life. Happy, Joyful, Excited not for any particular reason just because! I've had people come up to me and ask my why I'm always smiling or why am I always happy, as if its a bad thing. It's almost as if some people feel like being happy has to come with a reason.
Our joy is spread through the good news of Jesus' love. It's not enough to be filled with joy and keep it to ourselves. He wants us to share his love with others. Now, You may be thinking what is "Joy" exactly? Is it being happy 24/7?Always smiling? finding the positive in the negative? staying positive? Well after much research I found what I feel is the best way to describe joy! Its That deep awareness that whatever our circumstances may be, they are orchestrated by our God for our good. After seeing this definition it made me look at Joy in a different way. No matter what we go through there is always joy on the other side.
The Prodigal Son
I want to take a quick look in the book of Luke 15:11-32 I want to talk about the prodigal son real quick, when you get the chance I encourage you all to read this chapter. There was a man who had two sons and the father had a inheritance for his sons to have when he died. The younger son did not want to wait for his father to pass he wanted his share right then and now. The son demanded that his father give him his share, so the father did such. A few days later the son gathers all his belonging and left his father's house and traveled to a distant country where he wasted his fortune on reckless immoral things. Fast forward the son's joy and excitement soon came to an end when a famine came and the son was now homeless and had no food to eat. He ended up looking for work and was feeding pigs he became desperate to the point where the pigs food started to look appetizing to him. The son knew that he would die of hunger if he stayed where he was.
The son could no longer continue to live like he was , so he started to practice his speech for his Father because he knew he had to go home this was just unexceptional. Fast forward some more, he gets to his father's house and says " Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" The Father was so excited to see his son and became compassionate for him that he threw a feast for his sons return home. Now the older son was out in the field and when he returned home he heard music and saw dancing and did not know what was going on. The Father told the son that his younger brother came back home. The older son was furious as to why there was a party going on for his brother who was ungrateful. The father's response to his son was " Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was ( as good as) dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found".
Joy is an easy thing to lose but also an easy thing to get back. There are things in our lives that can take away our Joy such as losing a job, people being mean, someone passing away, people on your job even people in your church ( lets be honest). You have to look at your life and examine what is taking your joy? Once you've figured that out then it must be corrected. (Lamentations 3:40 says "Let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord)
7 Things you should know about Joy:
Wordly Joy is not going to sustain you.
(Job 5:20; That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment.) In other words wordly joy is temporary and it comes and goes depending on the situation at hand.
True Worship and Joy go hand in hand
( 1 Chronicles 15:16; And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethen the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with Joy) When I worship I have joy exuding out of me and I say that because nothing gives me more joy than being in Gods presence but not just that being able to sing to him and show him how much he really means. Worship is the time where you can be intimate with Him and Love on Him.
Joy is a Gift from God
( Galatians 5:22; But the fruit of the spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.....)Joy is a gift from God. As believers we should be walking in the fruits of the spirit. God commanded us to and since Joy so happens to be one of the attributes we must obey!
Doing Gods will, will increase your joy
( Philemon 1:7; For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.)Who wouldn't feel good knowing that they are pleasing the Lord. Think about when you were younger and you would get praised for doing something right! You would feel really good about yourself and be on cloud 9. As believers when we do what we know is right and living how God called us to live, and being obedient and righteous you feel like you can take on anything nothing can take your joy.
Never let Circumstances steal your Joy
( 2 Corinthians 6:10; As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.) We tend to let things that we go through tear us down and make us feel less than. We all face trials throughout life but knowing that Gods Love overrides our flaws should cheer us up. Yes, we make mistakes and stumble but knowing that our Lord is merciful, forgiving and gracious should make us walk in the joy that we have been given. Now just because our God is merciful, forgiving and gracious that's not a pass to act up on purpose. (“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).
The only thing that can steal your joy is "Sin" ( James 4:17; It is sin t know what you ought to do and then not do it)
As believers when we continue to sin and live more so for the world than for righteousness and holiness that should not feel good to you. If it doesn't bother you then that just means your heart is hard towards God, your mind is seared with a hot iron and that's a dangerous place to be. Anything that disappoints our heavenly father and goes against what he tells us to do should definitely have an effect on us. Think about how sad, mad, and frustrated God gets when we continue to sin, repent, and do the same sin again, breaking our vows to Him. Thinking about how our actions make God feel should cause us to want to change and have Joy again.
Rejoice ALWAYS!!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
I want to challenge us all to walk in Joy, no matter what your facing walk in Joy. What your facing is temporary and you will come out victorious and rejoicing!
xoxo.. God Bless