Joy

Joy. Something that is not talked about or even actually seen manifested in so many people’s (even Christians) lives today. Nehemiah 8:10c says, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Satan knows that if he can “zap our joy” he can weaken us. So if the joy of the Lord is to be our strength how do we obtain this joy? Joy isn’t something we can buy or posses without God. It is something the world cannot give or take away!

Psalm 112:1 says, “Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.”

The Bible says that those that are joyful will fear God and delight in obeying Him!
The Psalmist says people are joyful when #1 they fear the Lord, and #2 who delight in obeying his commands.

So what does it mean to “fear the Lord”?

Well, Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” In verse 9 of Psalm 19, we read that "the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever." Proverbs 8:13 says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil…”

So if we are to become wise we are to fear God, hate what is evil, so that we can have a pure heart.

So what does it mean to “delight in obeying his commands”? Well, Jesus himself said, “If you love me you will obey my commands.” I. John 5:3 says, “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.”

The Bible says in Psalm 1:1-2, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

What a joy, honor, and blessing it is to serve God today with a joyful heart! Lord, it is a priviledge to serve you, love you, and obey you!
Fill us today with your joy God!