There is real Joy in the Lord

Satan often tempts me into thinking I have nothing to live for, nothing to get out of bed for, nothing to keep going for. I hate when I feel this way. I normally feel this way when I am far away from the Lord. When I have stopped reading His Word, or I haven't been able to sit underneath a good sermon. It is at this time I try to remember what the Lord has done for me, this gives me great joy and hope to keep going.

I would for the most part say I am a happy person. Others might say something different but this is my journal and I say, I think I am happy most of the time. (Hee, Hee)

I still need to be reminded how God wants me to be. I try not to let Satan tempt me into believing there is nothing to be joyous about. Would I say that I am always full of joy? No way, a lot of work needs to be done in my life before I will have this "Fruit of the Sprit", or should I say the Lord has a lot of work to do in my heart. I can't do it alone! I have to let the Lord do this work in my life. How do I go about doing this? I have to be in His Word daily. If I let one day pass without reading His Word, Satan moves his way into my life and starts to make me think negative thoughts. Even if I am in the Word daily I can, and do, fall short of His Glory. We have all heard the saying "When Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy" Well, this works the same way in my house. That is why I really want to seek out the Lord in this area of my life.

My devotional today is on "The Joy of the Lord"

January 8th, 2007

The Joy of the Lord is my strength --

Can I get through whatever may face me on the road ahead without the Lord? It is the Lord who will carry me. I know that the joy of the Lord is my strength. God will never leave me, nor forsake me. Faith in Christ Jesus arises above the present circumstances because faith in Him sees a better outcome. If I have full faith in God, then I will have fullness of joy. How can I be anxious or worried when the God whom I serve holds me in the palm of His hand.... can anything but fullness of joy be present?

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.


Joy -- more than mere happiness!

Jesus- the center of our joy!

Have Joy in the Lord!
Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Happiness fluctuates because it has for its source the "good times" of life. Whereas joy, in the Holy Ghost, is present in the gloomiest of circumstances. By the grace of God, I have joy. Jesus-- the joy of my salvation!

JOY... A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Joy-- one of the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is given to me by God. It is a Heavenly gift that cannot be taken away. It is not dependent on external conditions but rather upon internal possessions. I have grace, peace, blessed assurance, and fellowship with God Almighty through my Great Mediator-- the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Faith in Christ implants that joy-- the joy that I can see in the midst of a trial and say, "I have hope! My sins are forgiven! Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning! All things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose...Hallelujah!"

1 Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

The world does not understand; the ungodly will never understand for they have no peace, no fulfillment in their lives. They search for joy in their careers and from the things that they buy. These things are temporal fleeting moments of happiness and then the emptiness remains. What good is a mansion when your heart longs for lasting peace? The world searches for joy-- they want contentment but they search for joy in all the wrong places. Joy is only given to those who have received Christ as their Savior. He is the One who gives us joy. I see people all the time wanting more, more, more and having it and still their lives are not fulfilled. Still they long for "things" to make them happy.

I have to work hard for the things that I have. (Not just me but my husband as well) We do work hard, we both work many jobs but this is not our main focus. Our main focus is not on what we can have but on what we can do for other's. I rarely buy myself new clothes or anything new for that matter, my husband is the same way. My point is this; I will never be rich in "The things of this world", I see to many people needing help. How can I hide money away when there are so many people in need? My husband is the soul supporter of a missionary family over seas. I say all of this to say "Things" will never make me have joy in my heart. The God of my salvation, has put in my heart a longing to help others. When I am helping others, I seem to have great joy to my heart. I believe that is what joy is all about. When I am doing for others and seeing my little efforts bring a little joy to others. This also brings me great joy. To serve a God that would give His one and only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, should give us all joy. If we are in Christ Jesus, we should have the "Joy of the Lord".


There is Joy in the Lord

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul
All blessing and honor are His, All glory and power are His

Let all wisdom and strength,
Be the Lord's in this place
Let all glory be given to Him

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain I know, Every time I am near it
My heart overflows to the Lord

All blessing and honor are His, All glory and power are His
Let all wisdom and strength, Be the Lord's in this place
Let all glory be given to Him

There is joy in the Lord There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
Thee's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul

There is joy in the Lord, There is love in His Spirit
There is hope in the knowledge of Him
There's a fountain that flows, like a river from Heaven
Abounding in love to my soul
There is joy in the Lord!