DAY 7 JOY

 DAY 7 JOY

Nehemiah 8:10
“Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Romans 12:12
”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Philippians 4:4
”Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Psalm 16:11
”You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

1 Peter 1:8-9
”Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

John 15:11
”I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Proverbs 17:22
”A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

In Nehemiah the people of Israel were weeping because the book of the Lord had pierced their hearts. Nehemiah told them to smile…He told them to celebrate with great joy, because the joy of the Lord would make them strong.

The same is true today. Joyfulness in the Lord gives us power. Yet somehow the church has become the most somber place on earth. Our witnessing is ineffective because we do it out of duty – not joy. If you ask people what traits they associate with Christianity you will probably hear stuffy, judgmental, boring, maybe arrogant…but you will seldom hear Joyful …and that is one reason the church struggles today. 

If we have faith, love, and wisdom and we seek courage – Peace will result and that should give us unquenchable joy that is impossible to hide from those who don’t have it.

I should be that person who is always smiling…Not because nothing ever goes wrong - but because one amazing thing went right – Christ rose from the dead and I am blessed to spend eternity with my Father.

In Hebrew, the word “Gospel” is the combination of the words “good” and “message” … So, if we carry God’s good message we should be beaming.

We aren’t oblivious to the trouble in our lives, but we are more aware of the deliverance the cross has provided - so joy shines out of us. According to Nehemiah we should celebrate because today is holy. 

When you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit – Every day is holy…and every day should contain Joy.

If you want more power in your walk and your witness, try smiling. Try focusing on the amazing gift God has given you.  Joy, like peace, is not dependent on circumstances – It is produced by concentrating on the fact that God chose you to spend eternity with Him…That produces joy - and that kind of Joy is unshakeable. Once you have the faith, love, and wisdom to know what to do…if you will do it with Joy, you will be unstoppable.

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.”
― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 

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