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03-29-2008, 06:46 AM
A Cupful Of Joy
by Muriel Larson
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Think about the professing Christians you know. There’s Jenna, always bubbling with joy and enthusiasm for the Lord. You may almost envy her for her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sometimes you may not be able to understand the joy she maintains—like the difficult time she went through when her mother was in the hospital, or the problems a feisty relative has been giving her. Why doesn’t she get angry, worried, or depressed, like most people would? How can she stand there in church with a joyful smile on her face while singing a praise song? If you ask her about it, she exclaims, "Oh, I’m looking up!"
You also notice that Jenna loves to talk about the Lord and speaks of Him as though He is with her all the time. You sense that she is truly trusting in her living Lord.
And then, of course, there’s Monica. Every time something goes wrong for her you can see it written all over her face and hear it in her complaints.
FROM DESPAIR TO JOY
When Jesus died on the cross, His disciples became the most sorrowful people in the world. But when they saw Christ after He rose from the grave, their hearts were filled with joy. When we realize He is alive and present in our lives, we know the joy Christ promised to His followers.
WHAT ROBS US OF JOY
*ANGER, BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT robs us of joy. How do we get rid of these hurtful feelings? By forgiving those who hurt us. See Ephesians 4:32.
*LACK OF FAITH robs us of joy. "God let me down; He allowed this to happen," is a Satanic implant. Christians like Jenna reject such self-pity. Instead they claim Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Doing that restores joy.
*DISCOURAGEMENT robs us of joy. We start dwelling on our troubles instead of looking to the Lord. Joyful Christians trust that God will work all things for good in their lives.
*SIN robs us of joy-that means disobedience of any kind.
TRUE JOY
Do you long to know real joy? The Bible says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8-9).
Jesus Christ said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11).
If you really want that joy of the Lord, read John 14, 15, and 16 to find out what else Jesus said.
Our Lord is in the transforming business. If we turn our lives over to Him completely, He comes into them, cleans them up, and makes us into new persons. And as we walk with Him and grow in Him, He makes us more and more like Himself—loving, joyful, and caring.
Questions: It’s easy to talk about our having joy, but what if we’re living in a bad, depressing situation? I’m angry about all the bad things people have done to me. How can I have joy?
by Muriel Larson
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Think about the professing Christians you know. There’s Jenna, always bubbling with joy and enthusiasm for the Lord. You may almost envy her for her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sometimes you may not be able to understand the joy she maintains—like the difficult time she went through when her mother was in the hospital, or the problems a feisty relative has been giving her. Why doesn’t she get angry, worried, or depressed, like most people would? How can she stand there in church with a joyful smile on her face while singing a praise song? If you ask her about it, she exclaims, "Oh, I’m looking up!"
You also notice that Jenna loves to talk about the Lord and speaks of Him as though He is with her all the time. You sense that she is truly trusting in her living Lord.
And then, of course, there’s Monica. Every time something goes wrong for her you can see it written all over her face and hear it in her complaints.
FROM DESPAIR TO JOY
When Jesus died on the cross, His disciples became the most sorrowful people in the world. But when they saw Christ after He rose from the grave, their hearts were filled with joy. When we realize He is alive and present in our lives, we know the joy Christ promised to His followers.
WHAT ROBS US OF JOY
*ANGER, BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT robs us of joy. How do we get rid of these hurtful feelings? By forgiving those who hurt us. See Ephesians 4:32.
*LACK OF FAITH robs us of joy. "God let me down; He allowed this to happen," is a Satanic implant. Christians like Jenna reject such self-pity. Instead they claim Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Doing that restores joy.
*DISCOURAGEMENT robs us of joy. We start dwelling on our troubles instead of looking to the Lord. Joyful Christians trust that God will work all things for good in their lives.
*SIN robs us of joy-that means disobedience of any kind.
TRUE JOY
Do you long to know real joy? The Bible says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8-9).
Jesus Christ said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11).
If you really want that joy of the Lord, read John 14, 15, and 16 to find out what else Jesus said.
Our Lord is in the transforming business. If we turn our lives over to Him completely, He comes into them, cleans them up, and makes us into new persons. And as we walk with Him and grow in Him, He makes us more and more like Himself—loving, joyful, and caring.
Questions: It’s easy to talk about our having joy, but what if we’re living in a bad, depressing situation? I’m angry about all the bad things people have done to me. How can I have joy?