Sunday, August 2, 2009

Unlimited source of Joy

Are you putting off Joy?

Joy-true joy-originates from God and from living in close connection w/GOD, not from our immediate situation or emotional state. Joy is always accessible to us because God has give us his Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). Not only do we have constant access to the Spirit of joy, but this joy is also, according to Nehemiah, our very strength; and it is available now! The enemy tries to deceive us into believing we cannot experience joy-at least not just yet. We buy into the thinking that say, "When this is over, when I finish this, when I obtain that, when I've resolved this... then I can experience joy."

Yet God wants us to know his joy now. Not tomorrow, not when we're healed, not when sorrow has passed, not when we've become successful, not when our child or spouse changes, not when we've lost ten pounds, not when we've paid off our debt, received a promotion or bought a bigger home, but now-this day!

What are you waiting to overcome, obtain or get rid of before experiencing God's joy?

9 comments:

Solomon said...

I'm not waiting for anything, I'm already experiencing it today.

I've never felt better, and I've got "stuff" goin' on. But that's OK, I know I have God in my life today, and that's all that really matters.

Peace, Love, and JOY!

A Free Spirit Butterfly said...

Solomon, I'm very happy for you. Your excite is bleeding through your comment and it's rubbing off on me! All days won't be good days, but HE will never abandon us! Love, peace and Joy back at you!

Free Spirit!~

crochet lady said...

I'm thankful that the joy of the Lord is always ready for the taking.

PAK ART said...

I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart. I really do. I know that true Joy has nothing to do with day-to-day life - true Joy comes from knowing God and knowing my place in his Kingdom.

CareyCarey said...

This is interesting.

My pastor told me that many people have expressed their desires to "come back" to the church but they first had to straighted out a few thing. He chuckled and said it seemed kind of backwards to him.

A Free Spirit Butterfly said...

Hey everyone. Happy Tuesday. May the Lord continue to keep you and use you as HE sees fit!

Love for a great day!
China/Free Spirit

Juri said...

I really loved this post! When I was sick and going through chemo and radiation, I would get down and think "when this is over"....yet I did experience real joy during that time, the joy of the peace that only can come from a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are young, we tend to think joy is a result of something fun....as we grow older and wiser, we realize joy is not the opposite of sadness, but a state of being that conquers!

Tea with Tiffany said...

This is absolutely true. Joy is now. Available during the good and bad times because of His Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Lord.

Tea with Tiffany said...

PS my picture on my blog of the sky is looking up from my patio. I have a redwood pergola(however you spell it) It frames the sky beautifully throughout the day. I love it.