All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Joy to the World! Are you joyful?

One of the most used words in the bible is the word Joy. Joy is listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We are to be the most joyous people in the world, so why are so many of us not joyful?

In the bible we are commanded to be joyful. Count it all joy the word of God tells us, but what is the problem with that imperative? You are hurting, how can you possibly be joyful, you ask, is there a button I am to push and make myself joyful? We often even get angry when people give us the biblical command to count it all joy and we think they are not sensitive, but are they being insensitive or are we being blinded by pain etc…?

We tend to think happiness and joy is something that happens to us, that is passive, but not something that we have control over. But can we create joy and happiness by an act of the will or by abiding in Christ? Is joy an automatic reaction to abiding in Him, to being filled with the Spirit?

Scripture gives us a command to count it all joy; it’s an imperative, it’s an obligation. It is our duty to be joyful and the failure to be a joyful Christians is a manifestation of the flesh. Don’t misunderstand me, we all experience sorrow and grief. Jesus was called a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. It is better to go to the house of morning than to spend our time with fools and blessed/happy are those who mourn scripture tells us, but how can a person be in mourning and still be joyful?

How can Jesus be a man of sorrow and be the most joyful human to have ever walked the earth?

How can we experience feelings of mourning (which are not sinful) and have the biblical dimension of joy, even when we are experiencing mourning and grief and in the midst of our sorrow?

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on March 1, 2012 at 4:14pm

Well Char,

I have always enjoyed reading your posts. Be of good courage beloved, I am sure I am not alone at loving you in Christ.

You are loved here sis and appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on February 26, 2012 at 6:18am

One thing I have learned for myself is that when I become less joyous, I think only on the things that bring me true joy.

I have joy in God knowing that He will never leave me or forsake me.

I have joy in my children. They treat me like a princess. Even when they are in need, they come and borrow from me, they treat me with high respect and praise. They anticipate what I need and when I need it, and they are swift to do it.

I have joy in my work. Even though I have done it for years, every day is a new experience.

Bills depress me...I look at them and put them in a drawer and out of my mind. When I have the money, joy returns because it's there to pay them.

I try to think on the joy and put sorrow in a drawer.

When I hear of the sorrow of others...I try to do what I can, if anything....pray for them... and put the rest in a drawer. I do not sorrow over anything that I can't correct . I pray and then watch what God does.

Blessings...

Rita

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Permalink Reply by Rita Cullimore on March 2, 2012 at 4:31am

Amanda,

The Lord is surely walking with this family. I believe that God has talked to this man and assured him of where his girls are...safe in Christ's arms. He is involved in the miraculous healing of this man to keep him from undergoing the agony of skin grafts. So many times God steps in when we can do nothing. Our God is awesome!

Love ya,

Rita