When I was a little girl we sang a song in Sunday School. “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…down in my heart to stay”.
And when I was a teenager we sang, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog. Was a good friend of mine…Joy to the world, all the boys and girls”.
At Christmas time we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”.
Each day I wake with a joyful heart, not because life is perfect but because the Lord promises to never leave or abandon me. His grace is sufficient to carry me through my storms and disappointments. He heals my broken heart , restores my soul and gives me joy!
Today my joy is just a little more exuberant! Had a wonderful time yesterday with Dave, Kim, Austin, Kaci, Stephen and Kaci’s littles. We missed Koy and Kym. (I hate that they live so far away.)
It was a day of giggles and hugs, love and laughter. Kisses and tickles. It was a day of family.
When I put the word joy into the search engine of my Bible app this morning it came up with 444 references on joy. Oh my, yes, our heavenly Father wants our life here on earth to be joy-filled.
“ But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV
Just like fruit grows in an orchard or vegetables sprout in a garden, the Lord plants seeds that will produce fruit in our lives and the Holy Spirit is the gardener Who is always there to see that they grow.
In the hard times, and there will be hard times, the Lord is there to sustain us.
“Lord, hear my prayer, and be kind to me. Lord, help me!” 11 You have changed my sorrow into dancing. You have taken away my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. 12 You wanted me to praise you and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” Psalm 30:10-12 ERV
Jesus knows what it’s like to face life’s worst circumstances. The night of His arrest He spent time with His apostles talking to them about the anxiety they would feel. Speaking peace into their hearts and telling them to ask the Father for what they needed and then they would be filled with joy.
“Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive. Then your joy will be full.” John 16:24 NLV
Joy is an emotion but it’s also a decision. It’s the act of letting God’s goodness always reign in our hearts. When we are weak His joy gives us strength.
“You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a wonderful and heavenly joy that cannot be explained.” I Peter 1:8 ERV
“…Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10 ERV
I hear the birds outside and each morning they wake singing praise to the Lord. Their joy is contagious. Yes, this morning I will sing, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay.