God only gives joy to believers. Its not the warm fuzzy feeling you get when watching The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. are ready to introduce you to Joy is a choice. Happiness is a feeling that changes depending on what is happening around us. All of it purchased by Christ once-for-all. I have been seeking the joy of the Lord. Live Now | Online Holy Mass/ "the Pilgrim's Mass" - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 09, 2023 - 9:30am. 5:22-23). Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. According to verse 1, the people ask Ezra the priest to read to them from the book of Moses. Through prayer, I come to the throne of grace and there I meet Jesus himself. ( Nehemiah 8:10) "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy.". Thats the refuge prepared by God. His joy can keep us living well. Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength. You daily receive joy from meditating on God's word instead of listening to those who do not love the Lord. Kingdom Rest | Living in the Joy of the Lord Pt 5 | Rev - YouTube If You Want Your Marriage to Prosper Dont Trash It! The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I experience that joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs ( Zephaniah 3:17 ). What is the joy of the Lord? | GotQuestions.org John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. Understanding the Joy of the Lord and How it Can Change Your Life, We get a bonus from our boss and our hard work is rewarded-, We spend the afternoon sledding and playing in the snow with our kids-, The setting is Jerusalem after the children of Israel have been punished by the Babylonian captivity. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. Declare His goodness and glory. Of course, all this raises the question: how can I grow in the joy of the Lord? All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. When you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. ( Psalm 5:11) " in your presence there is fullness of joy". The Word states that if you confess your sins, He is able to forgive and remove them as far as the east is from the west. Gods Blessings: 4 Roads That Lead You There, Former NAACP Leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis Looking to Field 'No Labels' Centrist Candidate in 2024 Race, 'What a Legend!' (Isaiah 55:1213). Choosing to, Lets turn our attention specifically to finding joy in Christ. The Scriptures are clear: God's people are both commanded to rejoice and characterized by rejoicing. (The LXX omits joy of the Lord and translates, because he is your strength [ischus].), Does the context perhaps constrain that translation as strength? You are My friends if you do what I command you. In the following chapter, David proclaims, But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Its on a reality a central reality. Experience The Joy Of The Lord By Meditating On The Gospel It Is Good For Christians To Be Happy Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love (Psalm 90:14). The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength Living The Message Christianisme Are you a control freak? This is the first time many of these people have heard the, The people are so moved that they begin to weep. Picture it this way, on this side of the cross of Christ. Joy can be extreme hilarity or calm delight and everything in between! Questions for Living The Message can be sent to livingthemessage@moodychurch.org . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Realizing and believing that is a key to not losing any precious joy. The ancient prophet Isaiah stated, "But now, O Lord . How do I experience hope, which is another form of the joy of the Lord? And it is a feeling a good feeling. Because in Gods word he met God himself, and when he met God he experienced the sweet joy of the Lord. This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. 9 likes, 0 comments - TheRevivalMovement (@the_revivalmovement) on Instagram: "THE REVIVAL MOVEMENT MORNING DEVOTION FAITHFULNESS THURSDAY 7TH JULY 2022 BY Marvel . You are blameless and holy before God. So, our focus is not mainly on a word. Hein van Wyk is the Co-Founder and President of Sharefaith.com. The reason your joy can now be as full as it is and moving toward perfect fullness when all our battle with sin is over is because in union with me, the branch in the vine, you no longer enjoy merely your joy. What does the joy of the Lord is my strength means? "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. A holy response to the holiness of the merciful God of Israel is not simply weeping. What could suffering and joy have in common? ? Let us turn back to the LORD. NLT. There is no joy when you know the right thing to do, and you dont do it. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. This expansive restlessness is called love. Living in the Joy of the LORD ~ Stories of Glory Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Copyright 2022, Sharefaith, LLC. It is good for our God; it gives him honor among men when we are glad. Therefore, we say, joy is serious because it is central to the very being of God. The Joy of the Lord - Grace Gems Rejoice in our confident hope. - Psalm 118:22-24. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This sounds like an arrogant statement, but its true! Living In Joy: Bible Verses About Happiness | ReGain In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). It is redemption, the reconciliation of fallen man with His creator, a personal experience of dedication and, Salvation and eternal security alone should bring us joy. In a day where churches are run like enterprises and pastors carry the titles of executive, there is a real threat of being so focused on visionary achievements and expansion that ministry teams can quickly become oblivious to the spiritual needs of their flock and the diminishing presence of the Lord in their own lives. The joy of the Lord is the firm, unshakeable conviction that God loves me, is for 100% for me, and is working everything for my good. Im so profoundly grateful that Jesus not only invites me to the throne of grace, but he commands me to come to him. I experience the joy of the Lord specifically because I am united to Jesus Christ. She did not do this because she believed, but because the spirit inside her was troubled at their presence. Psalm 5:11-12. Because of this, she no longer had the ability to tell fortunes and this did not sit well with her masters. Joy of Living is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with supporting performances from Alice Brady, Guy Kibbee, Jean Dixon, Eric Blore and Lucille Ball. When everything is going well choosing to rejoice, adopting an attitude of joy is easy, but what about when everything goes wrong? If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments . Maybe next year. For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. It is your joy in the Lord. Resist any negative thoughts of failure or defeat and continually refill yourself with joy. If you are limping along with one bad thing after another happening to you and your family (Ive been there!) Essential to Gods name essential to the final manifestation of God's glory is the crown of everlasting joy resting on the heads of the redeemed, followed by the singing mountains and the clapping trees. Secure. That means that how we choose to react to trouble is what will determine our success. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesnt know what his master is doing. And God offers it freely, without payment. Id love for you to visit me at www:https//lessonsfromhome.co or stop by my Facebook and Instagram pages! [ a] 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Do not be anxious about anything. Jesus gives me exactly what I need in every struggle and trial and battle. (Nehemiah 8:912). You are obedient because you have joy, and you are joyful because you are obedient. This is a radical and utter transformation in every sense of your being. We call it serious joy not only because it coexists in the same heart, at the same time, with the gravity of reverence and the groaning of sin, but also because it is not peripheral but central serious in the sense of centrally important. He is a mighty savior. They hang on to Ezras every word. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive. NLT Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. So, we choose to live in His joy as we journey with Christ through life. Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to those in need. We suffer because God is purifying our hearts and from that purification pours out the joy that cannot be quenched by any of lifes trials. The joy of the Lord is your stronghold, your refuge. Penitence is good. Psalm 51:12. No earthly circumstance can shake them off their mighty foundation. Self-Confidence Do You Possess the Essential Success Power of Believing in Yourself? I walk now with a better understanding of it. And cowering people do not magnify the glory of grace. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to themHaving heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man (Eccl 12:9-13 NET). In the end, God breaks them out of prison with an earthquake and the jailer and his family come to salvation. Worship Him for who He is, and what He has done for you. You have affirmation upon Scriptural affirmation. Psalm 119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. ESV Rejoicing about the promises God has given us in His Word. #trinity #christian #worship #praise #church #trinity #mission #prayer #jesus #music #hymns He is never becoming. Heres Nehemiah 9:33, Yet you [O Lord] have been righteous in all that has come upon us [in our captivity], for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.. I am part of Gods forever family and uniquely joined to his people. Without joy, you are not much of a witness and there is not much evidence of the Lord in your life. He delights in him. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. They came after Paul and Silas. Joy is both a description of God and a description of what He gives. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.. Experience The Joy Of The Lord Through Gods Word, 3. Joy Is Not Optional | Desiring God So the Word is the Son. You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. I truly appreciate this message. Running alongside the theme of joy in the New Testament is suffering. One of the more popular verses about this kind of joy comes from Nehemiah in which he proclaims, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Paul avows, Do everything without grumblingor arguing,so that you may become blamelessand pure, children of Godwithout fault in a warped and crooked generation. Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness. Joy is not a garnish on the dutiful entre of the Christian life. Its translated in the ESV 14 times as stronghold, 7 times as refuge, 7 times as fortress, 3 times as protection. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Dig deep into every promise so you can and dwell in that secret place of the Most High. It follows, therefore, that the joy we are talking about is serious, not only because it is central to Gods very being, and not only because it is central to his ultimate purpose in creation, but also because it is central to God-glorifying Christian living now. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice (Psalm 32:11). We must choose to live in His joy, just as we are to choose to rejoice each day. Serious joy is central not only to the being of God, but also to the ultimate purpose of God in creating the world. God is for you so quit fretting about who is against you. Stay in the Word, enjoy life, focused on the good, and keep the joy of the LORD growing to completion in your heart. TheRevivalMovement on Instagram: "THE REVIVAL MOVEMENT MORNING DEVOTION Because Jesus said so! Perhaps your eternal salvation is secure and yet you remain unhappy. We can live with joy because Jesus has overcome the world and in Him we are more than conquerors. The joy of the Lord awaits you. The righteous judgment of God looms over the world (John 3:36). This is a sacred day before our Lord. Every morning he pours out new, fresh mercies that are custom tailored for the day. And if you dont think the word good (in good feeling) is adequate, then you might try pleasant or congenial or delightful or agreeable or comforting or satisfying or amiable or sweet or happy or likable or glad or positive. Im reminded that God is 100% on my side and that nothing can ever change that. The people rejoiced greatly because they understood the words that were declared to them. The lack of joy happens to be one of Satans oldest playbook strategies. And it's powerful. He says, As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. The Joy of the Lord - Busy Blessed Women Lets turn our attention specifically to finding joy in Christ. We were createdto walk in the joy of the Lord, not to worry about every little thing. It's authentic. The joy of the Lord is not primarily a feeling of happiness. If this does not cause pure joy, then nothing will! When I call these things to mind, I am filled with hope and the joy of the Lord that is my strength. It's important to understand what joy is. The Joy Of The Lord: How To Experience It Every Day - The Blazing Center The Lord loves when His children talk about Him, and He also commands that we not forsake the fellowship of believers. Each aspect brings joy as they work in our lives. The old is gone, the new has begun. Whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). For You, O Lord will bless the righteous; With favor, You will surround him as with a shield. Theres a stronghold. Therefore, joy belongs to the being of God, eternally in the fellowship of the Trinity. Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD - LIVE NOW: HOLY MASS 9:30AM - Facebook I always assumed that the joy of the Lord in Nehemiah 8:10 was probably our joy in God, not his joy in us. Objective. Notice the three parallel thoughts: The natural interpretation of joy of the Lord here is the rejoicing that replaces the grieving, just like the other two parallel statements. I say it again rejoice! Philippians 4:4. It says, " . The joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. The way the Bible goes about communicating through the inadequacy of language is by piling up diverse expressions that refer to the same inner reality. How could they possibly comprehend the height and depth and breadth of the love of Christ? He wrote, "None but the believer ought to rejoice.". I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. James declares, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. . Salvation and eternal security alone should bring us joy. . Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ESV, Everyone can speak of the immense joy experienced when fellowshipping with other believers. Now, as I read verses 912 watch for three things: the weeping of the people, the holiness of the day, and the joy of the Lord. Behold . He never came into being. 13. The Joy of God | Bible.org Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. How To Live In The Joy Of The Lord - Sharefaith Magazine How could they be filled with all the fullness of God? It never had a beginning, as if there were a time when the Son of God was not his Fathers delight. At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991) - IMDb Your email address will not be published. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! He said, I am who I am (Exodus 3:14). What Does It Mean To Seek The Lord, And How Do We Do This? ( Psalm 16:11) Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the peopleThe words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. Purchased. Your joy now springs from being chosen and loved by a Savior, who laid down his life (while you were still in sin) to die for you. When we practice diminishing our own needs and use our prayer time to pray for others, especially in a form of thanksgiving, it uplifts our hearts as it retracts the focus from you, and places it on others. You should celebrate when you tithe into ministry. Learn to laugh at your trouble and choose joy over worry and anxiety. You can have joy and feel thankful. I say it againrejoice! - Psalm 16:11. When Jesus was born, the angels announced "good tidings of great joy" ( Luke 2:10 ). Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ESV, When you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, you became a new creation. Something went wrong. And the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:4-9 NET). The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ESV. How do I stay closely connected to Christ? However, all this still leaves me with the critically important question: howdoI experienceandgrowinthejoyoftheLord? Why? But not if thats all you feel. Living in the Joy of the Lord | Know HIS Ways (Isaiah 35:10), . Subscribe to our bi-weekly email newsletter giving you big monthly prizes, new product releases, relevant church news and motivational leadership insight. Do You Hear What I Hear? As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. All language is, in the end, inadequate to carry the fullness of experienced reality. Joy is not the icing on our cake, but an essential ingredient in a complex batter. The setting is Jerusalem after the children of Israel have been punished by the Babylonian captivity. You will operate from within the Joy of the Lord. Jackie Towns This is the everlasting sign of his purpose and his nature. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. Proverbs 17:22, If you feel yourself growing weary, then confess: I am steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord and knowing my work is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58), If you are facing financial troubles then confess the promise: My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). When you build your ministry team to operate within the realms of joy, their output, motivation, creativity, and vision will be off the charts. General Living In Joy: Bible Verses About Happiness Updated April 24, 2023 by Regain Editorial Team For millennia people have looked to the Bible for support, inspiration, and guidance. How can we not be overflowing with joy when we truly understand the great salvation to which weve been called? On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him;if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In other words, he wanted them to experience the joy of the Lord. When people see me full of the joy of the Lord, it ultimately points them to God, who is the source of all true joy. And do you know that even in times of trouble, joy does not have to leave you? Lets get the context before us. For the Lord your God is living among you. The fear of God, without joy in God, is no refuge from the wrath of God. Joy is essential to the Christian life. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 3 Keys for Keeping the Joy of the Lord Flowing in Your Life: Just because the storms of life blow through, doesnt mean you have to lose your joy. It was in and through Gods word that he discovered God has his exceeding joy. And, they think that happiness comes from "good happenings." Love is the restless overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others. Just the opposite. . Or as Nehemiah 8:10 says, The joy of the Lord is your stronghold. The stronghold built by God, and full of God, becomes our stronghold when we find him to be the treasure hidden in the field and take him as the treasure of our lives when we are wakened to see and savor God as our joy. Psalm 122:1. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. After years of hard work, Ezra the scribe, stands in the middle of the town square and begins reading the laws of God. Not to joyless fearing. So, we know that joy is not a feeling like happiness, but rather an emotion that does not change with the wind. 10 Bible Verses That Declare the Joy of the Lord! - Alyssa J Howard I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. Meaning, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God. Living The Message: The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength on Apple Podcasts Then you will shine among them like stars in the skyas you hold firmly to the word of life (Phil 2:14-16 NIV). It is a restless joy that grows by including others in it. Romans says that there is no more condemnation for those who belong to Jesus as they are forgiven, and nothing can ever separate us from Him. A Christian is a person who, by the sovereign grace of God, has found this treasure hidden in the field, and with life-controlling joy has sold everything he has to buy that field (Matthew 13:44). The Joy of the Lord - Seeking God with Elaine How Can the Joy of the Lord Change Your Life? If you remove satisfaction in God from the hearts of Gods people, they cannot magnify his worth the way they ought to. In Ephesians 3:18-19, Paul prays that the Ephesians would: have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Jesus desires for His joy to be made complete in us. This is the name of the Lord. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:8 says that the Levites joined Ezra, and They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. But perhaps not entirely, as we will see. Dont be grieved, and they went and rejoiced with feasting and generosity for the poor (Nehemiah 8:1112). The majority of pastors are not even employed by the church but work a second and third job to provide a steady income. Supernatural Encounters: Miracles and Prophecy - Facebook On a daily basis, refill yourself with joy by getting into the Word and confronting troubles with promises. The joy of the Lord is given to those who seek it and accept it and is not dependent on external situations. I dont have the philosophical horsepower to make fine distinctions between nature and essence and simple and complex in the divine being. The third way of describing the alternative to grieving is in Nehemiah 8:10, Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your stronghold. So, I dont think the joy of the Lord is the joy that the Lord had, but the joy that the Lord gives the joy that he is for his people. Come into the stronghold, the refuge. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Its organ, so to speak, is the soul, not the body, not the reason, though the body and the reason are affected by it. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Triumphant Joy - In Touch Ministries The people are so moved that they begin to weep.