Post by Cindy on Jan 25, 2017 8:58:44 GMT -5
Joy takes practice. Study joy in the Psalms. Psalmists didn’t even know the details of Jesus’ love but, with their glimpses of God’s love, they had joy and gladness. If you are willing to look for joy, the psalmists can lead you to it. The goodness of God is shot through creation and the church, so joy is always possible. When you can’t see it, return to the cross and appreciate the beauty of what Jesus did. Appreciate the beauty of his sacrifice—his willingness to become like us and give up everything. Appreciate the beauty of his love. Just behold it. Admire it.
God’s splendor ascends over the sorrow of life. Joy is possible. Choose to become an expert in it. After all, joy is not something evanescent. What you will taste is “everlasting joy” (Isaiah 35:10). It is here to stay, and the day is coming when those who know Jesus will be known by their joy. Believe it or not, you are becoming a joyous person. You will be a joyous person. Some say that joy is the serious business of heaven. But don’t think that this is just for the sweet by-and-by. The kingdom of heaven began with power when Jesus came, so you can get into the family business even now.
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.” (Psalm 96)
“and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
Heart of the matter: Daily reflections for changing hearts and lives.
We are filled with the Joy of the Lord when we reflect on Him and all He has done for us; when we reflect on all He is doing for us now; when we reflect on the tremendous future that He has in store for us - a future that is so incredible that He says no one can even begin to imagine it! We are filled with joy when we reflect on the incredible gift He has given us in His Word and have joy when we study it with Him, understanding that it's through His Word and His Spirit that we learn about all He's done for us and all He has for us. We are filled with joy when we have been able to help another understand something in God's Word that helps them live a life of victory through our Lord. We're filled with joy when we see another person begin to seek the Lord, knowing the wonderful adventure that is in store for them; and we're filled with even more joy when that person's seeking culminates in their salvation. Then we rejoice with all the angels in heaven! And we rejoice when we see others growing in their faith. We rejoice in our trials even when we reflect on our knowledge that God is using them to strengthen our faith and make us more like our Savior. Here are just a few of the hundreds of scriptures about joy for us to reflect on today:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” (1 Peter 1:8)
“Be joyful always;” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” (Psalm 119:111)
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)
“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.” (Acts 16:34)
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:8–11)
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18)
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Psalm 45:7)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9–11)
““I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 17:13) See John 17:1-13 to see what Jesus tells the Father so we can have the full measure of His joy within us.
“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.” (Isaiah 55:12)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (James 1:2)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” (Jude 24)
“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” (Philippians 1:25–26)
“The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.” (Proverbs 10:28)
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:1–5)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17)
God’s splendor ascends over the sorrow of life. Joy is possible. Choose to become an expert in it. After all, joy is not something evanescent. What you will taste is “everlasting joy” (Isaiah 35:10). It is here to stay, and the day is coming when those who know Jesus will be known by their joy. Believe it or not, you are becoming a joyous person. You will be a joyous person. Some say that joy is the serious business of heaven. But don’t think that this is just for the sweet by-and-by. The kingdom of heaven began with power when Jesus came, so you can get into the family business even now.
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.” (Psalm 96)
“and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
Heart of the matter: Daily reflections for changing hearts and lives.
We are filled with the Joy of the Lord when we reflect on Him and all He has done for us; when we reflect on all He is doing for us now; when we reflect on the tremendous future that He has in store for us - a future that is so incredible that He says no one can even begin to imagine it! We are filled with joy when we reflect on the incredible gift He has given us in His Word and have joy when we study it with Him, understanding that it's through His Word and His Spirit that we learn about all He's done for us and all He has for us. We are filled with joy when we have been able to help another understand something in God's Word that helps them live a life of victory through our Lord. We're filled with joy when we see another person begin to seek the Lord, knowing the wonderful adventure that is in store for them; and we're filled with even more joy when that person's seeking culminates in their salvation. Then we rejoice with all the angels in heaven! And we rejoice when we see others growing in their faith. We rejoice in our trials even when we reflect on our knowledge that God is using them to strengthen our faith and make us more like our Savior. Here are just a few of the hundreds of scriptures about joy for us to reflect on today:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” (1 Peter 1:8)
“Be joyful always;” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” (Psalm 119:111)
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)
“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.” (Acts 16:34)
“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:8–11)
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18)
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Psalm 45:7)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9–11)
““I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 17:13) See John 17:1-13 to see what Jesus tells the Father so we can have the full measure of His joy within us.
“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.” (Isaiah 55:12)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (James 1:2)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” (Jude 24)
“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.” (Philippians 1:25–26)
“The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.” (Proverbs 10:28)
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:1–5)
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17)
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