Just think about this for a few moments, JOY ALWAYS, it is enough to lift our spirits in any trial. And this is the JOY Jesus had, even when He faced the Cross, James 1:2-3. I am sure He didn’t feel happy as the circumstances were dire in every area of His life; the Cross itself; leaving His Mother, who He knew would hurt so much; His closest friends would desert Him, and all the people, whom He loved so much would hate Him.
But He had the bigger picture, of the ‘joy set before Him’. He encourages us to have the same eternal perspective in every situation, even when our hearts are breaking, Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1-3
We may feel that we have no joy in our present tough situation but Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." So His joy is available to us on a moment by moment basis. Just think of it - Jesus has put His own joy in our heart from the moment we were born again by the Spirit of God.
How do we put that force of joy to work in our life? Just like we put the force of salvation to work in our life, by faith.
First, we trust we have received it.
Then we speak it out with our mouth. (In other words, quit crying and start shouting "Hallelujah" instead!)
Then we start agreeing we have joy by doing it, praising Him, worshiping, His promises.
The Holy Spirit will teach us how to develop Jesus’ joy., take time out to lay aside every thought, every weight, and every care and get your heart focused on Jesus.
We can just keep thinking about that and talking about it until the joy of the Lord starts to bubble up within us. Then we'll be strong enough to whip any kind of trouble that comes our way!
Paul desired for the disciples to be strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to HIS' glorious might and to attain every kind of endurance and patience WITH joy, giving thanks to the Father. That's what Paul did, he certainly had trouble, he'd been stoned, and whipped and imprisoned, and ridiculed - and yet he was always rejoicing, never in self-pity. He kept re-energizing joy by drawing on the supply of the Holy Spirit within himself. Joy kept his attitude right. Joy kept him looking to God and flowing in Holy Spirit power. We can do the same, His power within us.
Joy doesn't depend on our constantly fluctuating emotions.
Joy affects the mind, making it alive and receptive.
Joy makes the human will vibrant and yielded to God.
Joy even affects the body. 'A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed strugles with sickness and depression' Proverbs 17:22 TPT
Just over a week ago I got a call at 5am asking me to return home for a serious family health situation. According to Google I was 3hrs 12 minutes away. While packing my case I put the situation into Father's hands and had a deep sense that He was working this situation out and I could trust Him. I certainly wasn't happy with this situation but all the time while driving home in the bucketing rain, I had a deep seated joy. So when any anxious thought came I just kept praising. All I could remember to focus on was the Lord's prayer, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven' and there is no death in Heaven. His joy was overwhelming at times. If I had not been driving I probably would be jumping up and twirling around. The outcome was just as the Father had promised me.
Each of the fruit of the Holy Spirit supports the others. It takes them all, working together, to make us complete. Joy is not just a state of mind. Joy is a very real force. The devil doesn't have anything that can stand up against faith, joy, love, peace, longsuffering, goodness or self-control. Discouragement, disappointment, disaster, disorder, disputes, divisions, doubts, all have to yield to joy. We dont need to stir ourselves up to be overcome by JOY just allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in us. Go for it BE JOYFILLED and the world will see JESUS.
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