The Joy of the Lord: Joy As an Attribute of God
Our God is a God of joy. He takes delight is all that he has made. And he calls us to experience that joy with him. Live experiencing the joy of the Lord.
Joy
Create In Me A Pure Heart – Psalm 51:10-12
All of us are guilty of sin from time to time, and experience separation from God. But how blessed is the one who will confess and repent of their sin and seek restoration. To experience the presence of God and the joy or our salvation. Our sin might bring satisfaction for a period of time. But nothing can compare with the joy that comes from walking with God.
Glorious Joy, In All Kinds of Trials – 1 Peter 1:6-9
The joy these believers was experiencing was not just because of the presence of Christ. And it was more that the expectation of their final salvation. Their joy was enhanced because they could see the work the Holy Spirit was doing in them. They were not the same as they had been prior to coming to Christ. They were being transformed, and took delight in that.
News of Great Joy for All People – Luke 2:10-11
Good news of great joy. That was the message proclaimed by an angel to a group of shepherds on a hillside near Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. And it is still news of great joy for the world today. The savior born that day still lives, and is savior to all who will come to him.
Thanking God for You – Philippians 1:3-6
In the 47 years I have been a believer, God has brought a vast array of fellow believers into my life. I am so thankful for each of you and, like Paul, I pray joyfully for you. I pray that God will continue his work, bringing each one of you to completion.
The Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23
Exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit is only possible when we walk with the Spirit and let him work them out within our lives.
Overflowing Hope through Joy and Peace – Romans 15:13
Hope grows in the soil of joy and peace, tended by the Holy Spirit. If your hope is weak, seek the joy and peace God will give to those who believe in him.
God’s Will: Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The above passage is from Paul’s concluding remarks in his first letter to the Thessalonian church, and it is sometimes easy to just race past it to finish up the letter. But I believe that is a big mistake. These three tiny verses have some very practical application in our daily lives, especially if we want to follow God’s desire concerning our character. Three simple directives that will make such a big difference in who we are. Rejoice …
Read moreGod’s Will: Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Joyful in Trials – James 1:2-4
Trials, difficulties, challenges, confrontations, IRS audits, economic meltdown, out of control kids, unemployment, persecution, etc., etc., etc.. None of us are immune to the difficulties of life. And it oftentimes seems like being a Christian only makes things worse. How should I respond to the rocks that life throws at me? James has something to say about this in his letter to Christian Jews scattered around the Roman world, who were also having rocks thrown at them. But his message to them, and to us, can be pretty hard to swallow. Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you …
A Living Hope – 1 Peter 1:3-9
The end result of faith is the salvation of my soul, the “me” that inhabits the shell I walk around in now. I find it interesting that we are even now receiving the salvation of our souls. It is not just something to look forward to at death, or at Jesus return. But even now that goal is being accomplished. The more I come to know God, experiencing his presence in my life; the more I experience the refining of my faith through the trials of this life; the more my soul is delivered from the bondage of this flesh and into the glory of his presence. And that should fill me with a glorious and inexpressible joy.