True Joy…..

We’ve all heard the phrase “Joy of the Lord”. What exactly does it mean? True joy is something only God can give, so without Him being actively pursued in your life, true joy is impossible to possess. Joy can mean many things to many people. Some say it’s happiness, some say it’s contentment, and some says it’s bliss. What true joy really is, is the ability to praise God in all circumstances. That means in good times and bad times too. If you really examine all of the factors in the above statement, you’ll come to realize that God is the first great cause. What I mean by that is He is the source of life. Everything goes through Him. If you experience happiness, it’s because of Him. If you suffer, it’s because He has allowed it to happen to shape your character. If you’re bored, it’s because you’ve taken your eyes off the prize of Heaven and serving Him. True, consistent joy is found in putting God in the center of your life, or better put, centering your life around Him. When you do this, joy can be part of your everyday life. You’ll find yourself communicating with Him daily, and when you experience Him daily, it’s so much easier to handle the ups and downs of life. When we see God as the first great cause in life, we also find ways to praise Him over and over. That’s what true joy looks like, and it’s only possible to praise Him, when you know Him. And that takes a daily pursuit. True joy is praising God in all circumstances. Are you experiencing this? If not, what’s holding you back?

10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” 11 And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” 12 So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. Nehemiah 8:10-12