ALWAYS BE JOYFUL - PART 1

SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 2022

Being joyful perfects our ability to possess our possession in Christ. It helps us to activate and access the possibilities of walking in step with the Holy Spirit, through the quickening power of our new life in Christ.

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New International Version (NIV) "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Simply put, always be joyful and never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I define joy as the sacred emotions and impulses prompted by the Spirit upon the spirits of just men. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) reads, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." This implies that joy is a significant fruit of the Spirit at work in us.

The Bible says, "...the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV). If you study the first ten verses of Nehemiah chapter 8 (KJV) very well, you'll understand the context that inspired the joy of the Lord in the lives of the people. It was actually because Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites taught the people properly as they read distinctly from the book in the law of God , which caused them to understand the reading, and eventually gave them sense of joy, and so, Nehemiah 8:10 actually reads, "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (KJV). The book of the law inspired their joy, which signifies words of instruction from God. This is the reason their joy was of the Lord.

We need to be joyful at all times because it denotes a strength that matches the extent of the power and commission given to us in Christ. In other words, it gives us or determines the measure of divine power that works in us. To explain further, divinely inspired joy sponsors our strength. Moreover, the strength we derive from joy is for godly purposes. Firstly, it empowers us to execute divine will and purposes. Secondly, it positions us to draw untold benefits out of the wells of salvation. For the Bible says, 'Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you'll say, "Give thanks to God"' (Isaiah 12:3-4 MSG).

If you are in Christ, train yourself to let joy often flow or find expression through you because as long as you have the Holy Spirit, you're not exempt from the necessity of enforcing this glorious fruit of the Spirit in your life. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 71:23; Luke 1:47; Psalm 118:24; Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:8-9.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, your Word and your presence in my life bring refreshing aura of blessing. I acknowledge that true fulfilment comes from drawing benefits from the fountain of salvation with joy. This is the day you've made, and I rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you Father for my faith in your Word and I live by it now and always, in Jesus' Name, Amen!