Greetings from Adele's Inspiration Cafe!
Today's blog post:
Part
II: Joy Abounds
By Adele M. Gill
‘The joy of the Lord is
your strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10
Joy abounds. I recently wrote about joy in a blog
called ‘Unshakable Joy.’ However, feeling
inspired enough to continue on the
topic, hence Part II.
'If God is for us, who can be against
us?’
For Christians, love and
peace and joy are central concepts. God-based joy especially has the ability to
help us live hope-filled lives in peace. There is no need for despair and/or
hatred when you are confident that God is in control and fighting your battles
for you. ‘If God is for us, who can be
against us?’ When you believe God is at the helm and in control, you are more
able to hop hurdles and challenges that would bog anyone down in their
humanness. In fact, joy is a manifestation of God working in one’s life, and is
accompanied by a deep, abiding peace.
Happiness vs Joy
Joy is one of the first fruits of the Holy Spirit. To
experience joy in our lives is a blessed gift from God, an enduring treasure.
Happiness is similar to joy. However, it leaves us feeling good for a time, then
the feeling soon passes, as life presses on with its ongoing issues, challenges,
frustrations, and disappointments. In essence, happiness is often a fleeting
feeling, but joy is lasting as it stays with us even and especially as we enter
into times of adversity. Happiness is dependent on one’s mood, environment, short
comings, successes and accomplishments, where joy is more of an enduring
internal state found when one experiences the peace that the Holy Spirit of
Jesus brings.
Joy Is Easy to Spot
Joy is particularly easy to spot. When one gets into
times of adversity; that is because it is paradoxical. For joy is best
witnessed in someone who is going through times of tumult, yet they are
seemingly at peace. With that kind of joy comes a quiet knowing that all is
well, despite how things appear. Scripturally,
that is called ‘walking by faith, not by
sight.’ You are able to put aside daily strife and walk in the sublime confidence
that God is leading the way.
7 Bible Passages for a Joy-filled
Life
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.”
“Until now you have not asked anything in My name [Jesus]; ask
and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall
say it again: rejoice!”
“Nothing gives Me greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in the truth.”
“Those who promote peace have joy.”
“I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”
‘The joy of
the Lord is your
strength.’
My prayer for you today is that your joy will outweigh
whatever you endure this day. May God himself be with you and yours showering
you with enduring joy especially in times of adversity. May you walk in the
confidence that God is with you through it all, in control, and fighting your
battles with you and for you. Amen!
_____________________________________________________________
Chaplain Adele M. Gill, RN, BSN, ABDA
is author of 3 books including “From Broken to Blest: Embracing the Healing
that Awaits You,’ written with Dr. Verna Benner Carson. From Broken to
Blest is now available on Amazon and at Barnes at Noble in print, Nook & Kindle
versions. For more info: https://amzn.to/2pNt9Sk
©
Copyright 2019 | Adele M. Gill
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