“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”  John 15:11 (NAS)

“My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help,
and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.”  Psalm 63:5-7 (NAS)

“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.”  Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) 

There are many scriptures that mention Joy in the Bible.  John 15:7-11 reminds us “If we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, we should ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us.”  We are then told to abide in His love.  It is important to note that if God’s Word abides in us we will pray according to His will.  Therefore, anything we request in our prayers must be aligned to the will and purposes of God, if we expect them to be done for us.  This is a joyful thing to meditate upon.

Do you meditate on the wonders of God, His blessings and kindnesses, His faithfulness to provide for you?  What a wonderful way to slip into slumber, remembering the faithful acts of love God has demonstrated throughout your life.  You can do this while enjoying the peace and comfort of His protection, under the shadow of His wing.  What sweet sleep you will enjoy, what happy dreams!                                                                                                  

We serve a God of eternal hope who fills us with joy and peace.  Why?    So that we will overflow with hope just like Him. With hope, we can do all things with the grace and strength of God.  It will enable us to journey down unknown and dangerous paths with a song of joy in our hearts.  Hope will spur us on to good works and push us through the darkest of times.  Joy, praise, and spoken words of joy gives Him the glory He deserves. 

It is easy to forget your joy when you are suffering a pain or sorrow.  Should depression or despair be your companions of late, it is most likely that your focus has been moved to something other than your Saviors face.  Jesus, because of the joy awaiting Him, endured the cross.  He looked beyond His present circumstances of suffering to the eternal glory He would soon partake.  Can you look beyond your present circumstances and rejoice with a joyful heart, knowing that what you suffer now is not worth comparing to the glory soon to be revealed in you?  Can you maintain joy in your valley and sing of it to your Savior?  This would be a sacrifice of praise and a witness to many.

Let the joy of the Lord be your strength at all times.  CHOOSE to be joyful.  Make a choice to see the positive blessings that are to come, or that are all about you.  We have been gifted with an inexpressible joy, thanks to the love and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

“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.”  Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.” ~ A. B. Simpson

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