HIS WORDS

“These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and your joy may be full.”  John 15:11

Rejoicing

HIS EXAMPLE

Jesus, I’m sure, was an enjoyable person to hang out with on earth. He was indeed joyful, loving people and life. I believe He enjoyed His creation and didn’t take any creature for granted (Psalm 104:14, 17, 18, 21). He rejoiced in His works (Psalm 104:31b). Of course, He called out people who perverted the Father’s plan, especially those who influenced and forced others to obey their perversions stealing the joy His salvation would bring. He was about the Father’s business and His heart was (and is) for those who would respond to the Father’s love with lasting joy!

MY STORY

Without Him, I am impatient, selfish, materialistic, and grumpy, and life is very dull. When I first came to know Jesus as my Savior, the greens in nature were greener, the flowers brighter, the breeze fresher. He brought great joy and peace to my soul. He infused me with His life and heart of joy. I have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide, convict of sin and strengthen me to obey as He speaks to my heart to remind me His way is best for my good and His glory!

Yet these many years later, He leads me deeper still in His joy in wonder of the vastness of the universe, or the complexity of the human body, or the depth and newness of His Word each time I read it; and in the simple hug of a child, and loving smile of a friend, I marvel at His tender care with a confident joy. Even in pain He gives us the ability to rejoice.

MY RESPONSE

In thankfulness and awe, He causes me to seek Him more and to live joyfully as He tells us in John 15, John 16:33, and as Paul echoes in Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

This is the month that we should set aside to focus on being thankful which, in reality, is how we should always live. What a freedom there is when we focus on the joy in His kingdom versus the circumstances that happen, and have happened, because of sin. We can be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world!

MY PRAYER

“Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the unexplainable and lasting joy that You infuse in Your children. May we focus on Your smile, and may our cheerful witness for You be contagious, because You have overcome our sin and have overcome the world. Thank You for Jesus’ example of joy! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”