The Joy of My Salvation

[Anja]

The secret of joy begins when you surrender yourself to the Lord. David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation”

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
11. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13. Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You
Psalm51:10–13

I think the reason David prayed this prayer was he had become increasingly distracted and disconnected from God and realize his situation. The story of David and Bathsheba had to have been what started it off. It is one of the most dramatic accounts of where sin leads us in the Old Testament. It lead to both adultery and murder plus the devastating effects on his children. In total, four of David’s sons suffered untimely deaths.

In the account of David and Bathsheba, we find many lessons. First, secret sin will be found out. Second, God will forgive anyone who repents. That's eternal security. Third, sin’s consequences remain even when the sin is forgiven.

 

[Overjoyed]

The Bible teaches that sickness can be a consequence of sin.

And behold, they brought to Him a man paralyzed and prostrated by illness, lying on a sleeping pad; and when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven and the penalty remitted. Matthew 9:2

I think AIDS Is a good modern day example.

 

[Overjoyed]

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Losing your joy is no joke. Happened to me once back in the '80s and luckily I had a Christian brother who noticed and asked me what was wrong. I told him I was bummed out and he said you've lost your joy. I became his project he was going to make sure I got my joy back. I'm so grateful to him because now I have a good understanding how that works.

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

This is one of those biblical imperatives, and it leaves no room for not rejoicing, for Paul says Christians are to rejoice always—not sometimes, periodically, or occasionally. He then adds, “Again I will say, Rejoice”

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

The key to the Christian’s joy is its source, which is the Lord. If Christ is in me and I am in Him, that relationship is not a sometimes experience. We are always in the Lord and the Lord is always in us, and that is always a reason for joy

 

[Aeliana]

@Overjoyed

I'm glad you have a good understanding of joy.

Since joy is a fruit of the Spirit, our sanctification is displayed not only by our love, peace, patience, kindness, and so forth, but by our joy. We must not forget that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Joy]

Gratitude leads to joy and true gratitude is not an incidental ingredient. And it's not a standalone product, something that never actually intersects with life, safely denying reality out on its own little happy island somewhere. No, gratitude has a big job to do in us and in our hearts. And it is one of the chief ways that God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggle of life.

The importance of this matter of gratitude can hardly be overstated. I’ve come to believe that few things are more becoming in a child of God than a grateful spirit. By the same token, there is probably nothing that makes a person more unattractive than the absence of a grateful spirit.
I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways:

I can whine–or–I can worship!And I can’t worship without giving thanks. It just isn’t possible.

When we choose the pathway of worship and giving thanks, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, there is a fragrance, a radiance, that issues forth out of our lives to bless the Lord and others.

On the other hand, when we give in to whining, murmuring, and complaining, we end up on a destructive slide that ultimately leads to bitterness and broken relationships.

The consequences of an ungrateful spirit are not as readily seen as, say, those of a contagious disease. But they are no less deadly. Western civilization has fallen prey to an epidemic of ingratitude. Like a poisonous vapor, this subtle sin is polluting our lives, our homes, our churches, and our culture.

A grateful man or woman will be a breath of fresh air in a world contaminated by bitterness and discontentment. And the person whose gratitude is a byproduct of and a response to the redeeming grace of God will showcase the heart of the gospel in a way that is winsome and compelling.

So unless you just love the way duty feels when it wakes you up at three in the morning, or hijacks your plans for your day off, or hands you an unexpected bill that wasn’t in the budget this month, don’t try living the Christian life without gratitude. By sheer willpower and effort, you may succeed at “gutting out” right responses, but your Joy will be nonexistent.

 

[Apain]

Joy Joy Overflowing

Overflowing joy is a profound and abundant sense of happiness and contentment that surpasses ordinary human experience. In the biblical context, this joy is often associated with the presence of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the fulfillment of God's promises. It is a joy that is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the spiritual realities of the Christian faith.

Biblical Foundations

The concept of overflowing joy is deeply embedded in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, joy is frequently linked to God's deliverance and blessings. For instance, in Psalm 16:11, the psalmist declares, "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." This verse highlights the joy that comes from being in the presence of God, a joy that is both fulfilling and eternal.

In the New Testament, the theme of joy is further developed through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In John 15:11, Jesus tells His disciples, "I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." Here, Jesus emphasizes that His joy is meant to be shared with His followers, leading to a complete and overflowing joy.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the experience of overflowing joy. In Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul lists joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." This joy is a supernatural result of the Spirit's work in the believer's life, transcending human understanding and circumstances.

Joy in Trials

Overflowing joy is not limited to times of prosperity and peace; it is also present in the midst of trials and suffering. James 1:2-3 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." This perspective is rooted in the understanding that trials refine faith and produce spiritual maturity, leading to a deeper and more resilient joy.

Expressions of Overflowing Joy

Overflowing joy is often expressed through worship, praise, and thanksgiving. The Psalms are replete with examples of joyful worship, as seen in Psalm 100:1-2: "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs." Such expressions are a natural outpouring of a heart filled with the joy of the Lord.

Eternal Joy

The ultimate fulfillment of overflowing joy is found in the promise of eternal life with God. Revelation 21:4 speaks of a future where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This vision of eternal joy is the hope and assurance for all believers, a joy that will never fade or diminish.

In summary, overflowing joy is a central theme in the Christian life, deeply rooted in the presence of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life. It is a joy that transcends circumstances and is expressed through worship, perseverance, and the anticipation of God's eternal promises.

BibleHub

 

[Joy]

Big. Small. Long-term. Everyday. There are so many things about our individual life experiences that occupy our thoughts, feed our fears, and add to our worries. Whether we’re out driving somewhere, or trying to sneak a nap, or attempting to pay attention to the pastor’s sermon, all this “yuck” hangs on us like a spider web we can’t seem to brush off.

I can try everything I can think of to deal with it. I can build my cases against the people who cause me the most grief in life. I can seek out the supportive shoulders that are offered to let me air our complaints and annoyances.

But still sometimes I sink into escape patterns, just trying not to think about it. I pour myself into my work in an attempt to avoid dealing with more important things.

But most likely, no matter how I try to cope with difficulty and disappointment, underneath it all is the heart’s cry that keeps so many of us from experiencing God’s best in our situations. With the promises of God still in force–even in the midst of aching pain and struggle–with His peace and presence still available to those who rely on Him, I too often choose to find our solace in these two plaintive words: “Why me?”

How often have you clung to this tart complaint, hoping to draw from it enough strength to protect your heart from further danger and damage?

“Why is life so hard?”
“Why can’t other people just be normal?”
“Why did this have to happen to me?”
“Why won’t anybody love me for who I am?”
“Why isn’t God answering my prayers?”
“Why do I have to live alone like this?”
“Why doesn’t the Bible work for me like it does them?”
“Why does this problem never seem to end?”
“Why am I supposed to just accept this?”
“Why me?”

Feeling betrayed. Feeling left out. Feeling inferior … mistreated … underappreciated. Like a whirlpool spinning around in never-ending circles, tugging and draining and pulling us down with every sweep of self-pity, we can sink lower and lower into ourselves, into our problems.

So how do I keep my joy? More will be reviled.

 

[Joy]

PRAISE THE Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, praise Him in the assembly of His saints!
2 Let Israel rejoice in Him, their Maker; let Zion’s children triumph and be joyful in their King!
3 Let them praise His name in chorus and choir and with the [single or group] dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.
5 Let the saints be joyful in the glory and beauty [which God confers upon them]; let them sing for joy upon their beds.
Paslm149:1–5.

 

[Joy]

Gratitude consists in a watchful, minute attention to the
particulars of our state, and to the multitude of God’s gifts,
taken one by one … . And all our whole life is thereby … filled with a
gladness, serenity, and peace which only thankful hearts can know.
H. E. MANNING1

The way the story goes, a Hungarian man went to the local rabbi and complained, “Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one room. What can I do?”

The rabbi answered without hesitation, “Take your goat into the room with you.”
The man looked back at him as if he’d certainly misunderstood. But he hadn’t. “Do as I say,” the rabbi insisted, “and come back in a week.”

Seven days later, the man returned, looking more distraught than before. “We can’t stand it!” he said to the rabbi. “That goat is filthy!”
“Then go home and let the goat out,” the rabbi answered.
“Come back again in a week.”

It was a radiant Hungarian who returned to the rabbi the following week. His whole demeanor spelled relief and refreshment. “How are you now?” the rabbi asked.
“Life is beautiful,” the man answered. “We enjoy every minute now that there’s no longer any goat–only the nine of us.”

It’s all in how you look at it.
It’s a matter of attitude.

There’s a buzzword used today to describe what takes place when a person adjusts the thought patterns that have become ingrained into his or her emotional makeup. It’s called: “attitudinal change.” It’s a fancy way to say that new behaviors start with new mind-sets. The pathway to personal transformation requires a change in perspective.

I’d like to coin a new word for those who may be deficient in the gratitude department (which includes all of us from time to time).

I’m calling for “gratitudinal change.”
That’s because I want you to live in the fullness of your relationship with God, not hindered and hamstrung and holding Him at arm’s length, but experiencing Him richly. Feeling at home in His presence.

I don’t want you to be destroyed by the inevitable downturns of life–with no answer for the darts of unfair, unpleasant circumstances–a walking bull’s-eye, just waiting for the next arrow to be shot in your direction. I want you to find the God-given reserve to stand strong in the midst of confusing, condemning onslaughts of opposition. I want your head up, lifted by the empowering Spirit of God within you, even when everything else within you is calling for a week in bed with the lights out and the blinds drawn.

I want your story to be rewritten into a tale of God’s grace, one that He uses to help you be an effective minister of His hope and healing to those who are walking the same kind of path. I want you to be so available to His Spirit’s leading, so aware of others’ needs, and so willing to be open and genuine, that God takes the things Satan meant for evil and transforms them into things of value.

No one expects you to be superhuman. And certainly no one should ever make you feel as though gaining victory over your hardships requires acting like they don’t exist, as if refusing to speak about them or make reference to them will cut off their blood supply. These losses or failures or injustices done against you are real. They are not dependent on your acknowledgment of them in order to breathe and attack. But just as certainly, they are no match for the greater plans and purposes of God. And when He is given room to work His will within you, He can be the One who puts the “supernatural” into your responses and reactions.

Joni Eareckson Tada

 

[Overjoyed]

THE FRUIT OF JOY​

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ' Galatians 5:22-23

Often when we think of joy, we think of an emotion. We have been conditioned to think that joy is a response to something good that has happened, or the result of a favorable set of circumstances. Because we believe that joy is an emotion, we make the mistake of thinking it cannot be controlled. We assume that when things go right in our lives; when God has answered all our prayers, and we are celebrating our victories, joy will come automatically. We tend to believe the opposite is true as well; that if we are in the midst of pain or hardship, or if we are waiting for God to meet a need, that it is impossible to be joyful during that season.

The enemy has convinced us that joy is completely out of our control, and dependent on our circumstances. He has managed for us to regard joy as something out of our reach unless everything in our lives falls into place. And he has deceived us into thinking that unless or until we get what we want we are resigned to a season of sadness, incompleteness, or frustration. Yet, through the verse above, we learn that God's interpretation of joy is very different. His word doesn't describe joy as an emotion ⎯ something fleeting, temporary, or fickle.

It is something good for us. And, most importantly, it is something that can be produced in us. Just as you can produce fruit when there is none, and that fruit can nourish your physical body, the Holy Spirit can produce joy in your heart that can nourish your soul ⎯ even in the darkest of circumstances. The word of God reveals a simple truth that the enemy would never want us to know. And that truth is that God, the creator of joy, did not place joy out of our reach or make its presence in our lives dependent on our circumstances. Instead, He benevolently created the nature of joy (as well as love, patience, goodness, and all the other fruits of the spirit) to be a product of our relationship with Him. That is why you can see people living the most amazing seasons of their lives and still lack joy, while others experience the driest, most painful seasons and somehow remain joyful.

The latter have learned how to grow the fruit of joy in their lives through the help of the Holy Spirit. They don’t wait for their circumstances to change, telling themselves they will be happier when they get what they are waiting for, or that joy is unobtainable. They have learned to cultivate joy, and therefore enjoy its sweetness during every season of their lives. Joy, like any other fruit, requires intentional choice. In order to reap it we have to make a conscious decision to do so.

Just as a farmer works all year long to ensure the health of his land, and then carefully, diligently sows his seed, we too must ensure that we have healthy hearts that will allow God to make something grow in them. The fruit of joy will never grow in a heart full of bitterness or malice. Neither can it thrive where there is lack of forgiveness or unwillingness to let the past go.

Today I ask you: are you willing to rise early, and work passionately to provide for your spiritual need of joy? Have you ever considered planting a vineyard of joy for yourself? Not waiting for it to fall into your lap, but actually taking steps to develop a relationship with God that will give fruit?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I believe that you are the producer of joy, and I long for you to make my heart fruitful ground, so that I may have joy to nourish my soul, as well as bring joy to others. Make me able to plant a vineyard of joy in my heart. Teach me to do my part, and to plant seeds of joy, and bring growth as you water them with your Spirit. Uproot anything that hinders the growth of my harvest. For joy is your promise to me, and from this day on, I receive it.
Life.Church

 

[Joy]

Oh what Joy

The moment you invited Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, all your sins were forgiven—your past sins, your present sins, and your future sins. Once you are born again, you are in Christ. You do not have to try to get forgiveness. You have the forgiveness of sins through His blood, and this forgiveness of sins that you have is not according to what you have done, but according to the riches of God’s grace—His unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor!

The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). In other words, the punishment for sin is death. It also tells us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22 NIV). Blood is thus necessary for the forgiveness of sins. That is why even under the old covenant of law, sin was covered temporarily through the blood of sacrificial animals.

The good news of the gospel is that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, came down from heaven to earth and sacrificed Himself at the cross. His perfect, sinless blood provided forgiveness for all our sins. You and I cannot pay for our own sins, so He did it for us. Now, whosoever believes in Him will never die but will receive the gift of eternal life. Hallelujah!

My friend, notice how David describes the blessedness of a man whose sins are forgiven: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
—Romans 4:7–8 NLT

Oh, what joy and what a blessing it is to receive the forgiveness of sins! Conversely, when believers start to question if they are truly forgiven, it leads to all kinds of insecurities, fears, and destructive bondages.
Fear and insecurity cannot exist in a healthy relationship with God. In a marriage relationship, for example, if a wife never feels secure in her husband’s love for her, she will never draw strength from or find joy in her marriage. Instead of thriving, that marriage will disintegrate over time. Similarly, our heavenly Father does not want us to live trapped in perpetual insecurity because we are never sure of our forgiveness.

Today, based on the Word of God, rejoice and thank God for the blessing of His forgiveness, so dearly paid for and so freely given to us. Let this truth of the gospel anchor and put strength in your heart, and drive away every fear and sense of insecurity.

This devotional is taken from the book Glorious Grace—100 Daily Readings from Grace Revolution.

 

[Joy]

JOY CONQUERS ANXIETY​

'Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. '
Philippians 4:6

'And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. '
Romans 8:28

One of the reasons joy is so difficult to obtain is because we live in a stress saturated world. Our culture demands that we be efficient, proficient, and fast paced. Our own expectations drive us to be perfectionists and control-oriented. Even our family and friends demand that we be the perfect balance of loyal yet un-clingy. We strive to reach perfection. We want to be everything for everyone, all the time. And, you know what? That’s okay. It’s okay to want to be great, successful, and well-liked. What isn’t okay is thinking we can do so all on our own.

God never meant for you to reach success using only your own ability. He knew you wouldn’t have time for it all and that you would slip up and need help along the way. In fact, when we really think about it, our lack of joy often comes from the anxiety of having to face life’s difficult situations using only our own strength. I think we all subconsciously know that we don’t have enough strength to handle painful and challenging circumstances on our own. So, our brains go into overdrive producing alerts, trying to warn us that the situation we are facing is too heavy for us to carry. That is where stress comes from, and it’s one of joy’s strongest and most successful rivals.

Stress is the result of dozens of anxious thoughts about things you can’t control but are unwilling to lay at God’s feet. It’s the opposite of faith when we subconsciously assume God is going to fail or not show up. When I first began to study this verse, I memorized it. Anytime I received bad news, or experienced a setback I would repeat to myself, “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS!” In those moments, I instantly said a silent prayer about whatever was bothering me. “In every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God...”This became a habit that I still continue today.

There is no point; if I’ve already presented my request to God, He will be the one to work it out. If anything bad is going to happen I trust that in the end, it’ll work together for my good (see Romans 8:28). Because I have that confidence, I can present my requests to God with a thankful heart. There is so much joy in knowing that I don’t have to be sure that everything is going to go according to plan. I just have to do the best I can on my end and trust that things always go according to God’s plan.

Thoughts for Meditation:

What’s going on in your life right now that you can’t control? What are the thoughts that come up that trigger anxiety in your day to day? List some things that you often try to do in your own strength, and forget to take to God and ask for help: How could you present those things as petitions to God? What could you take off your worry-list, and trust Him to sort out? Take some time to give thanks in advance for what you believe God could do in your life. Make a praise list for things he has already done!

Prayer:

Lord, I make the decision today to stop being anxious. Instead, in everything, I will bring you my requests. I will trust that you know what is best for me, and that you will never let me down. Give me the strength to resist the temptation to stress when I don’t know how things are going to work out. Holy Spirit, when things get rough, remind me to pray, so that difficult situations bring me closer to you, instead of further away.

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