A Heart Of Joy

A Heart Of Joy

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob

(Psalm 81:1).

Letting us in on the importance of maintaining a joyful spirit, Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Your joy, as a Christian, ought to be independent of circumstances. True joy is of the spirit. Your life ought to be radiant and full of glory irrespective of what you feel or what you’re going through.

Refuse to walk by sight. Acknowledge who you are in Christ, and what God has done in you, and for you, because that’s what keeps you living a life of gratitude and joy.

Psalm 149:5 says, “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.” What an admonition! Why would the Spirit counsel us to be joyful in glory, and sing aloud upon our beds? It’s because of all the wondrous blessings and extraordinary graces the Lord has bestowed on us. Give God your praise and thanksgiving today as a demonstration of your gratitude for all He’s done for you.

Miracles happen when you joyfully worship the Lord. When King Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming army, the Lord asked him to put singers ahead of the army, to praise His Name. The Bible says, “And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22). Whenever joy is expressed, victory is assured and the enemy is discomfited.

The enemy’s strategy is to first knock your joy out of you, because he knows if he can, then he’s got the advantage. This is why in the midst of adversity, we’re counselled to “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Keep rejoicing; abound with joy: for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Confession

I rejoice for what the Lord has done in my life! I am full of praise because He has made me a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, and have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ .

Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

Psalm 95:1-2; Psalm 98:4; Philippians 3:3

DAILY SCRIPTUREREADING

1 Year Bible reading plan: Matthew 16:13-17:1-13; Exodus 6-7

2 Year Bible reading plan:  Matthew 9:14-26; Genesis 24