Romans 14:17Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) GNB “For God’s Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives.”
LET’S TALK
How do you know that someone is joyful? Through their expressions! Joy has expressions. Laughter is an expression of joy. Praising God—being exultant and exuberant with praise to Him—is an expression of joy. Singing songs of praise in thanksgiving is an expression of joy. James 5:13Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) GNB says, “Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises.”
Express your joy in the Lord. Joy is one of the fruit of the recreated human spirit (Galatians 5:22Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)); therefore, your joy as a child of God should be independent of circumstances. It shouldn’t be based on what’s happening to you or around you; it shouldn’t have anything to do with what others say or do to you.
You can be joyful in the midst of trouble. Paul and Silas were cast into prison, persecuted for preaching the Gospel. Nevertheless, “At midnight,” (it doesn’t get darker than it gets at midnight), they prayed and sang praises to God, and the other prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)). They expressed their joy, and the result was a supernatural jailbreak. God shook up the prison, broke their bands and flung the gates open. They remained joyful in adversity, and gave expression to their joy.
You must learn to give expression to your joy. Always be cheerful and exuberant with praise, knowing that it takes a joyful and happy person to make others joyful and happy. If you’re not joyful, you can’t effectively preach the Gospel and win others to Christ.
Go Deeper
Isaiah 12:3Open in Logos Bible Software (if available); Romans 15:13Open in Logos Bible Software (if available); 1 Peter 1:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)
Pray
I thank you Father for making my life a bundle of joy and happiness. Your joy in my heart is my strength, and with joy, I draw out prosperity, peace, success, health and other blessings from deep within me today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
Galatians 5:16-26Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), Isaiah 6-8
TWO YEAR
1 Timothy 5:11-18Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), Jeremiah 39
Right where you are, begin to laugh and rejoice in the Holy Ghost. Sing a new song to the Lord and do a dance before Him as well.
Be Full Of Joy
