Be Joyful
Updated: Oct 5
My Daughter, Take My Hand, and Be Joyful
Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is… joy… Against such there is no law.
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1Peter 1:8,9 …..Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
James 1:1-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (ESV)
Thank You Heavenly Father
Your love, the love of Jesus Christ and the power of Your Holy Spirit will always pour joy into my heart.
There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is a feeling that comes from external sources. It is usually temporary and can change in a moment. You should appreciate moments of happiness, but you should not let them define who you are in Christ.
Joy, on the other hand, comes from knowing God and knowing who you are in Jesus Christ. You are called to be imitators of Him.
The book of Hebrews tells you that for the joy set before Jesus, He endured the cross. The joy before Him was not only taking the weight of everyone’s sins on His body and His death on the cross but it was knowing that the outcome of His sacrificial death on the cross would be your salvation.
When James tells you to count it all joy when you fall into various trials, he is saying you too can have the same mind as Jesus Christ.
Because the Holy Spirit is in you, you will be able to see beyond the pain to a place of greater faith, patience, and obedience finally lacking nothing. Then after a while you will start to notice that His everlasting joy is replacing any pain you may encounter. And His joy will be your strength.
Jesus has shown you the way to make His joy your strength, my Daughter, in John 15:9-11:
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
All scripture above taken from NKJV. See Scripture Acknowledgements page