22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

I am going to start a series on my blog on the Fruit of the Spirit. I am going to take one per entry.

According to BibleGateway.com the word is used 242 times in the NIV and 187 times in the KJV. I also decided to check the Amplified Bible and it shows the word joy 250 times in the Bible. This also includes the word joyful too. We are to serve the Lord with joy (delight or happiness).

Joy is strength

for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Splendor and majesty are before him;     strength and joy are in his dwelling place. (1 Chronicles 16:27) The Lord is my strength and my shield;     my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy,      and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)

As the above verse shows when we are joyous in the Lord, we have strength. Even the second verse states that joy is strength too. So we are to seek God joyfully so we are renewed with strength.

Trusting God brings …

Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps? (Genesis 31:27) then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,      they will see God’s face and shout for joy;      he will restore them to full well-being. (Job 33:26) But let all who take refuge in you be glad;     let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them,     that those who love your name may rejoice in you. (Psalm 5:11) You make known to me the path of life;      you will fill me with joy in your presence,      with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

If we go to God and trust in Him, seek Him and ask for his help, He will give us joy. God wants what is best for us. We just have to seek His will, not our own. God knows what is best for us, we don’t. We may think we do. We may get down not be joyful because we didn’t think God gave us what we wanted, but in fact God gave us what He wants us to have. But, never the less we still are to praise him joyfully.

Worship joyfully

Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. (Ezra 6:16)

When we worship God we are also to give him great joy. Worship with a glad and joyful heart. Doing this pleases God.

Peace brings …

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. (Proverbs 12:20) So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

If we have peace in our heart, we will have joy. If we don’t have peace in heart, it will have grief, sorrow and more. But, that sorrow and grief will later turn to praises of joy.

Final thoughts

By trusting in God, He gives us strength. In all things we do, we are to honor, love, trust and be joyous. Many, many times does it state in the Bible where God’s people praises the Lord with joy. Everything they did for the Lord was joyous. We should continue to praise and do everything with joy for God. Celebrate what God has done for you with joy. Sing unto the Lord a song of praise and joy (See Psalm 100:1-2). Most all the times joy was mentioned, trusting in God was also used too. As Romans 12:12 tells us to be joyful in hope. We have to Hope in the Lord. That brings me to my favorite Bible Verse. Isaiah 40:31. Philippians 1:4 tells us pray with joy. May all that you do for the Lord bring Joy to Him and you. Be joyous! The only way we can do that is from our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, he makes all things new. He will give us the desires of our heart, not our wants. These desires are our godly given desires not worldly desires.

Check out the complete Fruit of the Spirit Series.

Fruit of the Spirit – Series

About the Author

Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

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