Joy And Happiness

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your limitless love in Christ and endless power. Build my trust and my passion. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”

Verse of the day: Psalm 14:1

14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;    there is none who does good.

Daily Reading: Judges 13-15 Luke 6:27-49

Joy And Happiness

The pursuit of happiness consumes the world. Happiness is temporary in this faithless world without Christ.

I choose to use the word joy-it is simply my choice. I hear it more in scripture than I do happiness. Having said that, I do want us all to be happy but happy in God in Christ.

Commands to us from the Bible:

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

4  Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 32:11 (ESV)

11  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

2 Corinthians 7:4 (ESV)

4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

“In all our affliction”...there it is. This is the thing that trips us up.

Some see life as suffering and it is if we are consumed by the suffering. The Word of God is more than a mindset but I believe God develops in us a mindset of obedience to live in His joy in all times and in all things-”...In our affliction”

One reason the happiness of this world is so fleeting is that it has no Divine presence. Worldly happiness has nothing to perpetuate it.

Our Divine joy in Christ never stops-our attention to the presence of God may stop(a miserable place)but God’s joy for us is always a reality. If we learn how to enjoy God in our affliction-if we live in His power-meditate on Him-cling to Him with all our consciousness-we are more apt to remain conscious of God when things are going well-which we must do or fall to sin.

The death of my son hurts just as badly now as it did 8 years ago but God keeps telling me in my heart that, “He is with me-be strong, be courageous, rejoice in me, move ahead in worship.”

Joy is not an option for me or us all. It is a command. Seek God and He will fill your cup to overflowing.

...because He loves us…

Father in Heaven,

Your name is glorious and full of joy. Your kingdom is rich in rejoicing. Give me desire for today to live in Your joy. Forgive me for not keeping my mind on You. Lead me away from clinging to sadness.

God of perfect peace and joy,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen