Monday, July 13, 2015

The Importance of Joy


We had experienced a very fun afternoon with our grandchildren; Smiley face chocolate
chip pancakes with Butter Tart ice cream for lunch, peeping through binoculars from the
deck into the backyard, riding down the hill in Amma's new gardening wagon, then more
rides in the wagon (including the dog), attached to Papa's riding lawn mower! What a
blast; Riding, laughing and enjoying sweet things to eat! Who needs the fair or an
amusement park when you can create fun in your own backyard!?

I'm reminded through these fun moments at how important joy is. The Bible says in
Nehemiah 8:20, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."

But how can we experienced joy, especially when we are hearing so much bad news nowadays, this world is becoming a darker place, and even as we face our own brokenness and pain?

Just like fruit, joy needs time to grow! We do not always experience joy in times of pain and misery. But there are certain things we can do to grow joy, even in times of hardship:

Watch your thought life:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things...... think on these things" Philippians 4:8

Be thankful:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

Give Jesus your broken heart:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:1-3

What a beautiful promise – the oil of joy for mourning! I have experienced this kind of healing in my life from the Lord. How about you? Have you given the Lord your heartache and pain and allowed Him to fill you with His joy? Don’t put it off – give Him your heartache today, and He will fill you His joy!

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