05 May The Place of Real Joy
May 5, 2024
The Place of Real Joy
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in Psalms 118:24
His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. Matthew 25:21
You know, young children wake up most days joyfully. They are glad to see the loving faces of their loved ones ready to get the daily party started. The older we get, the more we sometimes must work on this child-like joyfulness. Joy, by definition, is a delight of the mind, happiness over an unanticipated or present good. I want to look at Joy briefly today from the place God has prepared for us and wants us to abide (stay and remain). I Chronicles 16:27 David’s Song of Thanksgiving says, “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.” Do you know Joy is mentioned in the Bible 430 times as opposed to happiness just about ten times? Which says there must be a difference between the two.
The Joy of the Lord.
Our Joy is not enough. We can get into this place unknowingly and function day to day without Joy. This is because we look at Joy as an emotion. We know emotions can be like a roller-coaster up and down, for example, an expecting woman during labor until she sees her new child., a student taking final exams not sure they did well, or a person waiting on health test results until they know all is well. The Joy of the Lord is different. The Bible says the Joy of the Lord is our strength; this has nothing to do with us.
This scripture is from Nehemiah chapter 8. Ezra had just read the Word of the Lord to the people, and they heard/understood/accepted the Word, and they got sad because, as one commentary says, “On realizing their disobedience to the Law, the people wept” but Nehemiah jumps in immediately and says “This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:8-10. The Contemporary English Version Bible says the last sentence this way. “This is a special day for the Lord, and he will make you happy and strong.”
WOW! Lord, make us happy and strong. Also, take a look at what the writer of Hebrews says about Jesus as he faced the cross at Calvary in Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” he tells us to look to Jesus, His Joy is our strength. Or Matthew 25:21…enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord.
Satan wants your Joy!
One of my Bible teachers went home to be with the Lord recently, and one of my favorite teachings from him was that if Satan can’t get your joy, he can’t keep your goods. Do you know when you’re feeling down and out that you don’t care much about whatever is happening around you? At those times, the enemy can sneak in and take things that are prepared for you and even things that you already have. You look up, and you’ve been robbed. John 10:10 KJV: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, don’t think for a second that your joy is exempt from what he will take. Jesus concludes that verse by saying, “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Jesus came to give, not to take; the Strong concordance states that the Word abundantly in Greek means more, greater, excessive, abundant, exceedingly, vehemently. This is not something we can not get from the world, but the thought of it will make you celebrate over and over.
Psalm 100 comes to mind in this celebration of the Lord and the Joy that is emotional and happy. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
How to stay in this place of Joy
Read John 15
Abide in God (stay and remain in God). Jesus tells his disciples in John 15: 4-7CEV, “Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. 5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. 6 If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire.”
·Our Love and Joy is Perfected as we follow what Jesus says in John 15: 7 -9 CEV. ” Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered. 8 When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored. 9 I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So, remain faithful to my love for you. 10 If you obey me, I will keep loving you, just as my Father keeps loving me, because I have obeyed him. “These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
·Remember, Joy is a fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22
·Joy can be restored. Psalm 51:12
·Keep your relationship with God Red Hot. Matthew 22:37-40
·Practice basic things like being grateful, forgiving, let go of the past. Take care of yourself, celebrate the people you love in your life. Also, take time to enjoy the life God has blessed you with.
This week, guys, I want to challenge everyone when we open our eyes each day to be like a baby and wake up with unspeakable joy. Try hallelujah, which is the highest praise to get you started. 💕
Theresa Woodard
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