A Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy

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A Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy

Do you find yourself grumbling,  always being down-in-the-mouth,  and sad  —  sad because things just aren’t going the way  you would like them?     As a Christian,  we should not be that way.     We need  to take a good,  long look  at the reality of things  and see  that we are not letting God work  His truths  in our hearts.     Of course,  sad things happen all around us  every day.     And,  of course,  there will be many times  when sadness will  come to us.      Nevertheless,  all those sad things  are not to continually rule  over the “joy”  of our Lord.

The joy  that we should have  is “a fruit  of the Spirit”.     If,  indeed,  we are letting God show us  all the reasons  we have  for being joyful  in the midst  of this troublesome world,  we will have a joy  that is beyond  our dire circumstances.     Galatians 5:22-23 tells us,

The fruit  of the Spirit  is love,  joy,  peace,  patience,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness,  gentleness,  self-control;  against such things  there is no law.

Instead of being bitter  about our circumstances,  we need to look  at our earthly lives  as God sees them.     For instance,  we need to be joyful because…….

• If our sins are bothering us  —  there is total forgiveness  in Christ.
• If we’re battling a powerful temptation  —  Christ is our victory.
• In a special need  —  God is our Provider,  our Sufficiency,  our Source of help.
• In a long-lasting problem  —  it is really short  in comparison to eternity.
• When we are being put down  —  our glory in heaven  is eternal.
• In a trouble  —  God is our Rock,  Fortress,  and Deliverer.
• Wondering how we should walk  in this world  —  Jesus is our Light,  our holiness,  our sanctity.    We can trust  His leading.
• Have we been devastated  —  The Lord is our peace,  comfort,  and security.
• Are we facing some danger  —  God is our guide,  our Shepherd,  our protector.
• When worried  about doing things right  —  Jesus is our life,  redemption,  righteousness.
• When feeling alone  —  Jesus is our faithful,  omnipresent friend.
• God is our Creator,  Redeemer,  Sustainer,  the one and only God  of all.

In each of these situations,  we are remembering  who God is.     God has not left us alone  to battle temptations.     But,  He does want us  to go to Him  for help  with every temptation.     God does not want us  to feel unforgiven.     He wants us  to remember  how He promised a Savior  in the Garden of Eden  and gave details  of that promise  over many years.     And,  God wants us  to remember  how He kept His promises  in Jesus Christ.     The Bible is filled  with examples  of how God is everything  in the above list  and so much more.

We simply don’t have  a real reason  to feel defeated  and without joy,  because the LORD loves us.     In Nehemiah 8:10 we are reminded,

Do not be grieved,  for the joy  of the LORD  is your strength.

It is definitely NOT any passing worldly “joy”  that is our strength.     What the world has  is only temporary  and not as honest and true  as the “joy of the LORD.”     In all of life,  let us always turn  to the LORD  for the “joy” we need  in seeing things  as they really are.     Then we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  You alone are our  All-in-all.     You alone  give eternal joy.     Help us remember  all Your ways,  so that Your joy  can be our strength.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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