Life’s True Joy.

Joy is such an interesting word.

Webster defines it as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. “

I found these verse in the Bible on joy:

-James 1:2-3-Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

-Hebrew 12:2-Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

-John 15:11-These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

This is what Oswald Chambers has to say about joy:

http://utmost.org/my-joy-your-joy/

In the first paragraph, of the devotional, Oswald lays it out for us. Joy isn’t about happiness, it’s so much more than that. I have found that often in my life joy accompanies an experience of intense suffering or pain.

Only Jesus can bring us true Joy. Not our own feelings, or our situations. I would happily trade a life of happiness for a life of Joy, knowing that it comes straight from the Savior and is not my own.

Can we allow joy to seep even into our unhappiest of moments? Dare we allow it to fill us when we are crushed by the world around us? Is it enough that we have Him on our side? Is it enough that in all things He is with us?

Sometimes it’s not. 

In my darkest moments I cannot say that I always allow His joy to flow through me. Usually I slam the door in His face and turn to the world for answers. He is not usually my first choice. But when I do turn to Him, I always wonder why I hadn’t done that in the first place. 

His love and peace and joy covers me like a warm blanket, speaking comfort over me in a way that no man, alcohol, drugs, TV, or Facebook ever could.

Do I dare allow myself the pure joy of knowing Him? Do I dare give up my own life every moment in exchange for what He has to offer. Or would I rather create my own shallow happiness and miss out?

Friends, I ask myself, and you…Why do we fight Him? Why do we try and run our lives like we even know what we’re doing? Why must we hold on to our controlled comforts so tightly that we can’t let go to grab his joy, peace, grace?

We must let go of ourselves. That is the only way to stand in the presence of Christ.

-Luke 9:23-

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

-Galations 2:20-

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

-Mark 8:35-

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.