Day 15 of Lent, Psalm 21:

Who would not want some joy? I wish I could pass it out like fliers for anyone to grab.

I would like to package joy as a present and give it away.

If I could bottle joy like water, it would taste so amazing.

I wish I could put joy in the post and send it across the miles.

How wonderful, if I could text joy and see all the smiles.

What is joy?

Joy is a little difficult to define, but easy to identify. How would you define joy? It seems like it is a little like happiness and contentment blended, yet not so dependent on the circumstances.  It is gladness, mixed with hope, which easily overflows. Joy is just, “joy.” But how do I find joy and how do I have more of it? In our daily world, joy seems to be fleeting. It is hard to have and sometimes feels impossible to keep. It is often attached with good things that happen and not the bad. It is more of an emotion than a state of the heart. It is much easier to complain, be “honest” with our feelings, and focus on the bad, then to experience real joy. This kind of joy is not easy for our natural self,  for it comes supernaturally- a  fruit that is produced, becoming more apart of our life:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

How are you abiding right now? How are you connecting to the Joy Giver today?

Nearness and Joy

The other day I saw the movie, Son of God.  As I watched the movie, I reflected on what a joy it would be to walk with Jesus. “If I was in His presence, how could I not be joyful?” I thought.
Then today I read this in Psalm 21:

For You (Lord) make him most blessed forever;
You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.

Psalm 16, also says this:

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Joy is connected with presence.  No wonder, I connected  joy and walking with Jesus at the movie. Being near the Lord gives joy.
How are you walking with Jesus each day? Do you sense His nearness?

Withness and Joy

Jesus also says that continually being connected with Him, gives joy. As we abide with Him then joy is produced and is full. He wishes for us to experience this kind of life.

These things (abiding in Him) I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (John 15)

This is a gift God gives — complete joy! As I am near Him and with Him, He gives me joy. I still wish I could pass on this joy to others. Who doesn’t want to experience joy– a real, not artificial, joy? It sounds almost too good to be true. I don’t think I can make myself or others joyful, but I can share with others about the Giver of Joy– the One who makes and gives joy. 

 Joy is given. Joy comes from His presence.

 Overflow: allowing God’s ways to touch our lives and then our lives to pour out to others
When is the last time you had joy like this?
Who is someone you wish you could give this joy to?