The Gift Of Joy

Tuesday, ‎December ‎20, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Luke 1:76-78

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Readings: MICAH 1-3 REVELATION 11

The Challenge of the Gift of Joy

It is impossible for me to speak of anyone else's joy in the Lord and pointless for me to attempt to explain someone else's idea. For me God's joy is in the current of the Holy Spirit of God. It is constant in crushing grief and the most challenging of professional struggles. It is present in the absolute worst family pain and never leaves me in screaming bone pain.

My definition of God's joy is nothing like the physical world defines it because it comes from nowhere in the physical world. It comes from the heart of joy.

Where was God's own joy when His son was on the cross in ultimate misery from His own dying wounds and from the weight of all mankind's sin in all history? How can God find joy when, down through history, as mankind has continued to turn a blind eye and ear to God's righteousness and marvelled in their own ability to make sin such a regal thing?

God's joy is constant as ours should be if we learn the freedom in obedience to His righteousness. God's joy is certain because He knows the end to His own plan. God's joy is flowing as God sees down through the ages the souls delivered by the death of Christ and the faith His followers place in Him.

Our joy comes from knowing Him and being faithful to Him.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

What is our joy and how do we find it?

In His presence is the fullness of our joy. Nowhere else can we find God's joy except in His presence. You want to really know God's joy in your life? Then, in Jesus' name, get into God's presence. No one can pray you into God's presence. No one can go for you-you must do it. In all humility, with a contrite heart, get into God's presence. But don't get in front of God for the purpose of finding joy-get into the presence of God for the purpose of finding Him.

In God's presence is God's full joy and pleasure evermore.

The mind that wrote Psalm 16:11 knew these things because after he got into God's presence... this is what he discovered. I believe he did not go to God looking for joy and pleasure...he wanted God.

How much do you want God? He will reveal it all when you seek him alone.

...because He loves us,

Father in Heaven,

Glorious God, forgive me for not seeking You enough-not near enough. Teach me to yield to the Holy Spirit and bow before You.

God of all joy-all real joy,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen