More Joy in the Lord

Who wouldn’t want more joy?  It’s a universal yearning, but the fulfillment too often remains elusive.  Why is that?

I’ve come to the conclusion that this is one of those ‘in plain sight yet terribly easy to overlook’ kind of phenomena.  Two truths keep lingering with me as I've been investigating what the Bible says about joy.  The first is from Psalm 16:11, penned by David, “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence of fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  The second is the New Testament echo of the same theme in the words of Jesus, “Abide in Me. . . . These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”  (see John 15:1-11)

Just what did Jesus mean when He said ‘full’?  I found out the Greek word conveys the idea of fully and abundantly supplying, literally cramming in, totally filling up a hollow place, diffusing something throughout the whole place.  Do you think that much would be enough?!  These words aren’t describing some wispy, mythological dream.  These are some of Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He was arrested, tried, and crucified; He knew what was coming and He gave them something solid and real to hang onto.  He meant what He said.

That means we better pay attention to where that full joy comes from—in His presence, in abiding in Him.  But practically, what does that mean?  When I was a little girl, it seemed that the answer to nearly all the questions my Sunday School teacher asked was, “Read your Bible and pray”.   I’ve decided that wasn’t so far from the truth.

If you want to remember someone dear to you, whom you can’t physically see at a given moment, what do you do?  You constantly cycle their pictures in your digital frame.  You keep their letters, notes, and emails and you reread them.  You write back.  You make their pictures your screensaver.  You talk on the phone. You watch the videos you made when you were together.

David didn’t have our technology, but I think he had the same idea.  From Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad. . .”  Yes, “In your presence is fullness of joy,” and “Abide in Me. . . .”

If you’re a real Christian, He already lives in you.  Don’t ignore Him!  Paul prayed that Christ would be more and more at home in the hearts of the Ephesian Christians.  So let’s cultivate the relationship.

Surround yourself with His words.  Expect Him to meet you in His Word.  Read it like you mean it.  Read it like you know He means it!   Ask yourself, seriously, how your life is going to be different because you believe it.  Then live like you mean it.  Take a truth or a promise and write it down.  Hang it up.  Memorize it.  Then live like you know He means it.  Talk like you know He means it.

Talk to Him like you know He means it.  If you need a starter, grab the Psalms.  “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  (Psalm 62:8)  Let Him know you believe Him.  Pray like you mean it.

Who wouldn’t want more joy?  He told us to abide in Him so our joy would be full!  Let’s live like we know He means it.

(If you haven't yet stopped in at the Welcome and Why Unsmotherable Delight sections, I invite you to.  You'll find the tabs at the top of the page.)