Have you ever met someone that always seems to be happy, no matter what? When they walk into the room, you know they will have a smile on their face. They have positive words to speak to you and others, even whenever circumstances around them may be bleak.
They speak life instead of death. They speak victory instead of defeat. They see the treasure in people and not the trash.
Even whenever this person walks through situations that could get them down, they remain steadfast in their positive attitude.
Do you know what this person has in their life?
JOY!
Joy is not just “happiness”. Happiness is based on our natural feelings that can fluctuate based on the natural circumstances we encounter. Joy in the Word of God is the Greek word chara, which deals with an inner feeling of satisfaction that comes from known spiritual realities.
Have you ever been through a situation that just tempted you to feel down? Maybe you or a loved one is dealing with sickness. Perhaps your company let you know that they had to lay you off from work. Maybe your flesh is just having a rough day!
As we walk through life, the enemy wants to do everything he can to throw us off the path that God has for us. He wants to get our focus off of the Father and onto our feelings.
Let’s take a look at Psalm 16:8-11 in the New King James.
“8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
What a reality! The Lord goes before us! We don’t have to be moved by our circumstances. We can be glad on the inside, despite what is around us, because we KNOW that in His presence there is joy unspeakable! We have already received the victory!
God has made a covenant with you and with me! We can have joy in this life because His Word is good!
Maybe you have had people let you down. As the saying goes, “A man is only as good as his word.” If you’ve been on this planet very long, you have experienced moments where people fell short of the promises they made us. Maybe your mom or dad wasn’t always trustworthy with their promises to you.
Let’s take a look at some Scripture and see what it says about God’s promises.
“God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Numbers 23:19 NLT
“19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”
2 Corinthians 1:19-20 NLT
Our Heavenly Father’s word is good! You can take it to the bank!
Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “I’m a Believer. I believe the promises of God, but it seems like my joy is a little low.”
According to Psalm 16:11, if His presence brings fullness of joy, how much time have you been spending in His presence?
When we make it a point to spend time in His presence, both in the Word and in prayer, our joy will be full! He will renew our minds through the Word to the spiritual reality that we are seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus! When we start each day in His presence, our joy will be full! A joy that can’t be taken away by the enemy’s attempts to throw us off!
When we allow the joy of the Lord to rule our emotions, rather than our circumstances ruling them, we can walk through life with gladness, knowing that all of His promises are yes and amen!
