There sure are a lot of sad people in the world! It’s only 4 months after Christmas! What happened to “Joy To The World”; what happened to the joy?
Even among believers, Christians, there isn’t a lot of joy. There are times when laughter is prevalent, but typically that’s when everything is going their way.
Where’s the joy of the Lord?
People sing, shout, and clap their hands at church. But when they’re alone; what a wreck! Dejected, depressed, cast down, blue, down trodden, heavy hearted…get the picture? Know what I mean?
No joy! Alive, but no joy! Maybe “saved”, but joyless!
And weak (Nehemiah 8:10).
I’ve noticed, what I believe to be, a direct correlation between having His joy and Loving God with all our heart. If we love the Lord with our whole heart, we will do what He commands. When we do what He commands, there’s an unmistakeable joy. In other words, joy comes from doing the will of God,
“Well done, good and faithful servant” isn’t just something reserved in Heaven for the faithful soul. No, the Lord has a way of letting each obedient son and daughter know He’s proud and pleased.
It’s called joy. The joy of the Lord.
It’s living under the shadow of His smile!
It’s a sure cure for blues. It demolishes depression! It gives supernatural strength to the faint hearted and worrisome.
The joy of the Lord will turn darkness to light, and sorrow to delight.
The joy of the Lord will affect the world, our world in a positive way!
Are you without joy? When’s the last time you simply got alone and talked to God? Maybe you’re not used to praying, that’s okay. The Lord can handle the imperfect prayers of someone who really wants His joy.
Allow Him an opportunity to speak to your heart. Maybe you need to repent of something you have done, or something you didn’t do. Maybe you could ask Him to come into your heart as your only Lord and Savior.
Weeping only endures at nighttime, when life is dark. Joy comes with the morning, when God faithfully brings His light to your new day!
Be joyful in the Lord. Again, I say, be joyful.
As you do what He says.
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” (Psalm 119:1-3 NLT)
“Praise the Lord ! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.” (Psalm 112:1 NLT)
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:1-3 NLT)
“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.” (John 15:10-11 NLT)
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.” (Psalm 32:1-2 NLT)
“Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.” (Proverbs 16:20 NLT)
“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NLT)
“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-16 NLT)
Jan Grace 