What is joy? Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Joy is another word for gladness, delight, great pleasure, triumph and bliss.
Joy is one of the best things in life to have I believe. Joy makes you laugh, shout, praise, and cry happy tears. Joy makes you hug and have laughter. Joy is key in our life and we know it is very important because it is talked about in Galatians 5 involving the fruits of the Spirit. We need joy because it is even key to our relationships. How can you have good, flourishing relationships if there is only glum and negativity? You need joy in every relationship you have, especially your friends, family, God and everyone you come in contact with. Joy has to be in our lives but more importantly, we have to have joy rooted in our lives.
Five Points of Joy:
Joy is a way of life.
Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
We must pray, give thanks and rejoice always. Sometimes it's easier said than done with these because we forget to thank God for everything He has given us whether we are happy or not. Sometimes we forget what all God has done for and given us so that we can be thankful because we feel like we made ourselves on top. We forget to pray when things are good and sometimes (at least for me) we forget to pray when things are bad because we think we can handle it or that it's too shameful to share with God but this verse reminds us to rejoice in all He has done for us, pray nonstop and give thanks for everything because it is His will that is being done.
Always rejoice. Always pray. Always give thanks.
Joy can never be taken away from you.
So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. (John 16:22)
Like I said before life gets tough. We go through enduring times. We will go through days where it seems like there is no joy at all. It is hard to be joyful in every situation. Lately I have had so many bad days I wonder if joy is even around but then I remember the little things God blessed me with like air to breathe, my heart to beat, a body that works then I remember the big things in my life like my family, house, and school that brings so much joy to my life. As a Christian, I have to always remind myself that there is something to be thankful for because of God. God sent His only Son for ME. God loves me consistently even though I fail Him daily. God has blessed me with so so so much so I always have something to be joyful about and when I know that and root that in my life it shows throughout the rest of my life.
Even on my darkest and hardest days I must remember that my joy isn't taken away I just want to throw pity parties and act like there is no joy in my life but in reality there is so much joy and it can never be taken away from me. When you have God in you and you experience joy through Him it is unlike anything else you can imagine. Do you ever have those moments where you feel so good and content and you literally just say "This is God giving me this joy." or "This is a God-thing." I've had so many moments like that. A couple of weeks ago I went to Strength to Stand and let me just tell you that I was struggling but when Casting Crowns performed and I listened to their music while singing the songs through tears, I felt an unimaginable peace from God.
Even on your darkest days, the devil cannot take your joy away...at least not fully. Do not let him win when you are down in the dumps-remember that God is the giver of joy and He gives you an abundant supply.
Fellow Christians bring you joy.
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. (Philemon 1:4-7)
I love this text because it reminds me that when my fellow Christians reach someone or further God's Kingdom in their ministries, I am to rejoice with them. It should bring me so much joy when I see my brothers and sisters in Christ blogging, leading a study or just growing closer to God because they are furthering the Kingdom by giving God their all. Paul and Timothy are thankful for Philemon and his ministry because his love is so great.
When I say fellow Christians bring you joy though I don't want you to think that they are the source of my joy because they aren't. Yes, my friends and family bring me joy but they could never be the root of my joy because they may fail me at any moment like I would fail them but our God never fails and that is why He is the true source of joy. Saying that though, I have so many fellow Christians from all ages that I am thankful for whether it be how they lead me more in Christ, others in Christ or that their walk brings me joy. I have friends and family that without them my walk with Christ wouldn't be where it is now and without them I wouldn't have been able to find so much joy in circumstances but they always fond a way to remind me that God will bring joy to this through His plan.
God is joy.
You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures. (Psalm 16:11)
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
But the angel said to them, don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. (Luke 2:10-11)
Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:16-17)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
The one thing that I find so powerful about God's sense of joy is that He sent His One and Only Son Jesus to die on the cross, a brutal death for the joy that was yet to come. God is the source of all joy. It even states in Galatians 5 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy..." and so God bears joy in all things along with the other fruits. We have joy through salvation, faith and love of Christ.
God is joy and gives joy abundantly.
You are joy.
Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
In your daily walk, when you encounter people you know or don't know, you should be the visual representation of God's joy. We are a living hope as Christians and how can people see that we are living the greatest life if we constantly walk around angry, upset, and negatively instead of joyful? The way people see our salvation and that we love is by the joy we have rooted in our hearts.
In some of these verses, they state that the righteous are joyful and to be righteous is to be right with God. To be right with God and a true Christian is to be rid of your flesh and stop feeling sorry for yourself to where you let God fill you up with joy. To be a Christian and light is to have joy in your heart. We know joy is so important because it is one of the fruits of the Spirit God gives us to bear. We are to bear joy so that we can give joy.
Find joy in prayer.
Find joy in fellowship with fellow Christians.
Find joy in worship.
Find joy in studying the Word.
Find joy in undeniable love.
Find joy and be joyful.
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