Joy 

I have just got back from the Big Church Festival. A time to focus on God and joyously sing, praise and worship Him. The days were full of sunshine and God's presence was with us. It was easy to feel a joy that you can only feel in God's presence.

Looking back over the years, we get moments of extravagant joy. I know when I truly gave my life to Jesus and was baptised in the spirit, I was brimming, even bursting with joy. The world around me seemed new and I appreciated and was joyous over God's creation. The sky seemed a little bluer and the grass a little greener. The question I have to ask myself is do I still feel that joy that only Christians can feel. The honest truthful answer is yes although it does get tested at times.

As we walk side by side with Jesus, our joy will come under attack from what life throws at us - whether that be bad health, work or the cost of living, to name but a few. I know the joy I felt in spending a weekend focused on God came under threat a week after. As a follower of Christ, how often do we experience God's joy to then be pulled the other way? It can be really difficult to keep hold of that joy.

The joy we feel as Christians is a gift we have from God. I did a search on how many times the word joy is mentioned in the Bible. In the English Standard version of the Bible the words joy, rejoice or joyful are mentioned 430 times. Joy is therefore an essential component of Christian life. Biblical joy is more than the joy we feel when we go on holiday or are rewarded for a job well done. These are moments of fleeting joy and happiness. The joy that comes from God is a lasting joy, from our choice to trust and believe in God and His faithfulness to us. By believing and following God, we have a God of hope that fills us with joy. Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

The joy of knowing our Father brings great joy. For whatever we are going through our God is with us. When our joy is under attack how do we keep hold of the joy? In Nehemiah 8:10 it says "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This Word sums it up - God is your strength. Whatever hurdle you are facing, you can rely on God. He is with you, beside you and caring for you. There is no better place to be. To know that through everything you are going through, He is with you. Rejoice that He is with you. The Lord’s Prayer says “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done”. Whatever life throws at us God's Will, will be done on our lives. Therefore if your joy seems to be slipping, be faithful in who God is. Pray to Him and worship Him and rejoice that God's will is on our lives. Be reassured and 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord for thy kingdom come......