Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
We thank God for bringing us into the second month of the year, may His name be forever praised.
Our Focus for this Month of February is JOY
Our anchor scripture –
1 Thessalonians 5:16 GNBUK
Be joyful always,
Joy is not just a feeling, neither a moment of happiness nor a fleeting sense of pleasure as defined by the
Oxford dictionary. It’s not just a smile or laugh. Joy is something that is deep within and does not l
Joy is a state of the mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope. It is that inward peace and sufficiency are not affected by outward circumstances.
Joy is a divine gift, a fruit of the Spirit freely given to us by our Heavenly Father.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:22 KJVAAE
As with all of the fruit of the Spirit, real joy can’t be manufactured through an act of our will. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, who works in our hearts.
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 NKJ
We experience deep joy as the Holy Spirit makes the work and knowledge of Jesus a greater reality in our hearts.
Joy is not optional but a vital necessity. Without joy, our spirit is crushed, our life force is drained, our bones are dried up. But with joy, our spirit is lifted, our life force is renewed, our bones are strengthened.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov 17:22 ESV
This verse is packed with wisdom. It’s telling us that a cheerful heart, a heart filled with joy, is good medicine. It is essential for our health, our well-being and our spirit. But a crushed spirit, a spirit devoid of joy, dries up the bones. It saps
strength and vitality.
Research also shows that joyful heart promotes a healthier lifestyle. It boosts immune system, fights stress, pain and supports longevity
Joy keeps us healthy
Joy has healing power, healing the spirit, soul and body. As you choose to rejoice in God it can have a powerful effect on your heart and your physical health.
Being filled with the Spirit causes you to experience the fullness of joy and pleasures evermore:
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” Psalm 16:11
The Holy Spirit living in us brings us God’s presence, which brings joy to our hearts and refreshes us. His presence in our lives gives no room for spiritual downcast.
You can’t be cast down when you know how to stir the joy of the Lord that’s in your spirit. That joy, the Bible declares, is your strength
” Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Eat, drink, and be a blessing to others. Every day God has made is holy and to be rejoiced in.
Ps 118:24 says “This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
As we rejoice in the Lord He fills us with fresh strength daily!
Jesus came to give us joy that no one can take away. He promised that this joy that He has in His relationship with the Father, can also be in us. And not just a little bit of joy, but full joy. Complete and Overflowing joy.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11 NKJ
Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of our life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation“.
Hab.3.17-18.KJVAAE
This verse is a declaration of faith, a proclamation of joy. It’s saying that no matter what happens, no matter how dire the circumstances, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior
Life’s trials are certainly not fun, but we can react to those painful situations with joy if we understand that God is demonstrating His love for us through those circumstances.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that testing 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 purpose of trials in the above passage was to produce patience or endurance in our lives.
To find joy and remain joyful always, you must surrender your life to the Lord, submit yourself totally to the control of the Holy Spirit, study God’s word, spend time with God in Prayer, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
As you consistently fellowship with the Holy Spirit, your life will be full of joy irrespective of what is happening around you.
So rejoice evermore in the Holy Ghost, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Shalom
Written by Sis Adenike Omobulejo