The Lord desires for us to receive and enjoy the joy He has made available to us through His spirit.
God’s joy fills our hearts with joy and strength
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Ezra and the scribes read the law and the Israelites were convicted, so they started mourning because they saw their shortcomings, as opposed to what God desired. Basically, Nehemiah told them that God was joyful, and that His joy will give them strength; there is no reason to mourn, but that day was a day of celebration.
Our view of God is so important. When you think of God, do you see him with an angry face, a somber face, an indifferent face, or a joyful face?
As parents we set the tone for our homes. If we are peaceful and joyful, then when the kids walk in the house, they can relax and take on the same attitude. If they walk in and see us stressed out or angry, then that makes them upset and insecure. It is important to see God with the right perspective, because that will give us the security and confidence to be joyful.
Doing God’s work blesses us with joy
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”Luke 10:17
The disciples were joyful because they had the opportunity to minister, and their ministry produced fruit by people being freed up from demons. They saw God’s power at work through them. The Lord has created us to do good works. When we do works that produce good results, it gives us great joy because we were designed for this purpose.
As we walk in the spirit, God gives us opportunities to be joyful because we are in tune with Him. Do you know that God wants to see you joyful? He’s given us His spirit, and one of the manifestations of the fruit of spirit is joy. This is gladness of heart. It is a sense of well being. It is His desire for us to have an abiding joy that comes from a close intimacy with Him.
Joy is the currency of the Kingdom of God
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:17-18
As the people of the kingdom, joy is Jesus’ inheritance to us. When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, he prayed, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 When we live, move, and walk in the spirit of the living God, righteousness, peace, and joy flow in us and through us. We are bringing the kingdom of God from heaven to earth making who He is a reality to all those around us. Righteousness, peace, joy are attractive qualities that draw others to us because the currency of the earth is fear, stress, & anxiety.
Lord take us to deeper wells of your joy. Let us be filled to overflowing so that we can’t contain it. We desire joy to spill over everyone around us starting with those closest to us. Amen.