Considering Joy
James 1
Joy
Joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Inner contentment and satisfaction, no matter the circumstance, because we know that God will use our experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives.
Joy
Sometimes it must stand against the natural push of your circumstances. And even more than that it must resist with truth full of a greater force than that of your circumstance.
James 1
2 Count (Consider) it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
This Spirit given inner joy is available to us who believe because of Jesus. We experience this joy by our “considering” or “counting” our well being in the midst of all circumstances.
John 14:16-17
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth,
The Holy Spirit is my “considering” or “counting” buddy.
(aka walking in the Spirit)
To be joyful you must believe there is something in your life worthy of being joyful about.
God gives perspective and positional awareness through the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 2:7
7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.
Revelation 21
3…..And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Revelation 21
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
The rescue.
He is saving us.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness�For the sake of His name.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Psalm 23
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death……. I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Psalm 51:6-13
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right 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.