We all have heard this verse, I would hazard a guess! It is “cliché” in Christian circles. But the other day the application of this verse hit me in a way I had never thought on before. The JOY…joy…What kind of JOY? The joy OF the LORD! What exactly is the joy of the Lord?
Sure, I have often told myself that I have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. I have told myself that I am more than a conqueror. I have told myself I am daughter of the King. I am co-heir with Christ. But in hard moments…how is it that the JOY of the Lord is my strength? Now, bear with me. I am not sure if I can explain exactly what I am thinking.
But as I stood in church this past Sunday and was singing praises and fear and anxiety lifted from me as I sang, the next thing that happened was joy. I stood there hands raised singing, and suddenly I was filled with JOY. I can explain it with no other word. I had this flood of joy come through me…I felt as if I were on the top of the world. I felt as if I had everything. I felt as if nothing could touch me. I felt as if no problem was too big and no difficulty too great. I felt overwhelmed with love and JOY! I knew it in that instant, and even said to myself, “THIS is the JOY of the Lord.”
I then realized that this JOY is mine always. No circumstances can change that. But it is more than just realizing certain truths in my head. It is truly a JOY. What is JOY, but a feeling?! So, my strength is in knowing this JOY! I can always come back to it. I can stop and praise in my mind and remember the JOY of the Lord. I can close my eyes, and NOW I had a specific memory to which I can return. I have had many in the past just like it…but something happened. I was challenged, struggling and then I had JOY. I had JOY because I was focusing on the Lord-what He has done for me, what He IS to me, how much I love Him, how much He loves me. And in those moments I had JOY!
Before I thought that the joy of the Lord is my strength is something that I have to remember in my head. I have to remember in those hard moments that I have the joy of the Lord because I am saved. But it never occurred to me that it means literally to have the emotion of JOY in your heart. And it never occurred to me that I could get that emotion back in a moment. I could close my eyes and go there again when I need to and get back my JOY! Because what He is, what He has done, how He loves me, and how I love Him never changes. But it is more than head knowledge; it is a real emotion that I can have at any time. It is mine to have. It is a specific feeling.
So, what is the Joy of the Lord? Now, I know exactly what it is. It is a specific emotion I have felt very specifically at specific times…it is a particular emotion that is mine to have. I can conjure it up exactly. It is NOT some vague notion or pie in the sky emotion that I have to think on. It is a specific JOY I am familiar with. It is a joy I have known. It is that very particular feeling I felt this past Sunday. It was like a light bulb! Oh, the joy of the Lord. I now know EXACTLY what that is. It is THIS. It is THIS right now-I thought to myself! The joy of the Lord.
Y’all likely think I am bonkers. But this was a real light bulb moment for me. I didn’t just have to stop and remember that I should have joy because of the Lord…I can close my eyes and remember that exact feeling, think on praises in my mind and go back to that place-like the mumbo jumbo psychologists are always telling you. Go to your happy place. I now can go to the place of the joy of the Lord. It is so awesome. And THAT will be my strength! Wow! It is more real, more applicable than I had thought originally. It works. It is not just a vague notion that you should have joy because you are saved. It is a TRUE emotion, a specific feeling that I can go back to when I need it!
Well, y’all might just think I am nuts. Don’t know if I explained it well or not. I do know, though, that I KNOW this joy of the Lord. And it is my strength! Amen! How simple. Why didn’t I see the application before!?
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8 comments:
My sweet friend, I do not think you are crazy at all. I think you are overflowing with the precious joy of the Lord. You have the joy, joy, joy down in your heart to stay!! I love you.
There's nothing like the kind of joy that we as Christians enjoy! Love the calligraphy graphic with the verse...
Xandra
RYC: I forgot to add a disclaimer to my post. I merely found that online somewhere and there was no credit given---so I don't know who wrote it.
Thinking about the joy of the LORD, I'm at a point where I have decided, for now, that the joy is reveling in being His in the midst of life. Joy is being filled by His Spirit and knowing that "it is well with my soul" at all times. I don't always remember that but it is my goal. Blessings of His best on your day and to your spirit.
It's true, the joy of the Lord is our strength! We are so blessed!
Hugs, Sharon
NO I don't think you are bonkers.:)
I have been there too. It is amazing how God shows us that His word truly is alive when we have these light bulb moments. It is like God opened a previously closed door and WOW...the light that comes through.
You were touched by the Spirit girl!
And the proof that He was there was that He deposited a little of His fruit in you. What an inheritance we have.
You are so right. We have so much to rejoice about. We have so much hope. The Lord is my strengh and I really could not not a thing without him. Hugs, Kathi
You know this is one of my favorite topics. What a lovely post. Hope it is alright if I share three of my favorite quotes:
Joy is an inward singing that cannot be silenced by outward negative circumstances. Yes, even when life seemingly is falling apart. –Robert D. Foster
Joy is the standard that flies on the battlements of the heart when the King is in residence. –R. Leonard Small
Count it all joy, sweet friend.
Always in Him,
Julie
Joy is the great note all through the Bible. We have the notion of joy that arises from good spirits or good health, but the miracle of the joy of God has nothing to do with a man’s life or his circumstances or the condition he is in. Jesus does not come to a man and say “Cheer up.” He plants within a man the miracle of the joy of God’s own nature. –Oswald Chambers
I so heart you on this topic! I get what you meant! And rejoice at your epiphany - He is so faithful to reveal Himself to us!
Now that you get that Joy - now fouc on how that is OUR STRENGTH! It just slays the enemy when we are enraptured and focused on the Lord - and He is filling our senses in that way. It is a wonderful weapon!
Something I pray - declare mostly daily - "Lord - thank you that we get to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness - we CHOOSE to do that! We CHOOSE to seek You & Your ways first - and I thank you that Your kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost! How good a God you are!"
Love the scripture graphic! And the Oswald Chambers quote from Joyful Days! WOW! That's dead on!
xoxo,
maria
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