‘The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.’
(Galatians 5:22-23 in the Holy Bible)
Joy is a condition of the heart. A true gift of God and is a product of living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. One can have joy no matter what is going on around you. For joy comes from within and is not external. The Holy Spirit within gives this inner joy. You can live a life of joy should your focus be on Jesus.
I must declare that I live in joy and have since I was filled with the Holy Spirit back in college. During these decades of walking in the Spirit following Jesus I have faced many difficult things that could have stolen my joy. I have tried to just keep the inner walk with Jesus the main focus and not the things of this world.
From jails to wars to illness to all kinds of conflicts in life I have found that no matter how tough it gets I can still have joy. Even when things go completely wrong according to the way I see life I just trust in the sovereignty of God and know that God is in control. Joy remains.
I would like to share a few Bible passages for you to consider.
“For the joy of the LORD is your strength.’
(Nehemiah 8:10 in the Holy Bible)
For the follower of Jesus this is glorious news. The Lord gives us ‘His’ joy and this joy is our strength. Ask Him for it.
“ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.’
(Hebrews 12:2 in the Holy Bible)
Jesus faced the horror of the cross and death and hell for us. He was to die as our sin bearer. Yet Jesus even as He sweat drops of Blood in the Garden the night before the cross. He in this agony still had joy! Joy in what was set before Him. Joy in knowing that through what He did at the cross would bring lost people into the Kingdom of God for all eternity. He rejoices in giving life to a lost and dying world. Millions would have ‘life’ because He ‘died’. Praise God. Joy that Satan would be defeated and through Him hope came. Whosoever will may come to Jesus and have this life eternal. We are His joy.
“These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.’
(I John 1:4 in the Holy Bible)
We are not to have a little joy but God wants your joy to be full and overflowing! Enough joy to fill your heart and bring joy to others. How touching and strengthening it is to be around a person that faces difficult times and still has joy.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be
(Isaiah 61:3 in the Holy Bible)
Here again we see this joy as being a fruit of our relationship with God. Oh, come to the Fountain and drink of the Living Water. Let Jesus heal the hurts and pains and wounds and bring healing to your heart. This is not something you do or create it is something that God will do in you! He will give you His promises. Call on Jesus now!
Now break forth with joy wherever you are now! Let that joy remain as you meet family and friends and even enemies. Let the river of joy flow even in life’s most difficult moments.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
(Psalms 30:5 in the Holy Bible)
Take some time now and talk with Jesus. Should you feel like weeping, then weep! Should you feel like shouting then shout! Should you feel like just being quiet and thinking then just be quiet and think. Jesus is hearing you and wants to give this Joy to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give produce in you this fruit’¦’Joy’!
God bless you and may He give you ‘Joy’.
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt
Luke 18:1