Day 3 – Joy

When it comes to joy, most of us immediately think of “the joy of the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10

Joy is a strength because true joy is a “deep-rooted, inspired happiness expressing God’s goodness” that permeates your whole life no matter the circumstances. It’s supernatural and opposite to the way of the world. The joy from above is not a perceptual “smiley face”, but at the core reflects our faith in a loving and faithful Father. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope”. Romans 15:13 This means that the joy from above is directly linked to our hope and trust in the Almighty God and this is why it overrides even the hardest things we go through. 

The scripture tells us in James 1:2-4: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Joy is directly linked to God’s word and the “good news” of the Gospel for our focus is not on this life, but on the life to come. Our joy is full because the battle is won, and we understand that every trial and every hardship is producing in us an eternal treasure. “The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart…” Psalm 19:8(a)

Prayer: Precious Father, sometimes it feels the pressures of life overshadow my joy, so today I declare my hope in You faithful Father, and ask that You fill me with the strength of Your perfect joy. I ask, standing on your word in John 16:23 which says if I do, my joy will be full. I love Your statutes Father and I thank You that through them You bring rejoicing to my heart. In Jesus’s Name. Amen 

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