JOY Comes

Next Post May 16

​Luke 1:57-58 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
 
JOY is a little word with large meaning. Joy is living in faith that Jesus is Over You. Such emotion is anticipating loved ones coming to share a meal. Joy is hugging them, talking with them, sharing concerns and happiness. Joy is praying with them to trust God’s care in all circumstances. You know Jesus is Over You while you are with them because you love them very, very much.
    And there is another aspect of joy we have toward our loved ones. That joy is expressed with thankfulness toward God. We understand he has given to us such people in our lives. Even though we are a bit sad when they go home, our joy remains because of our mutual love built on a true love for God.
    God is the center of this joy. He is the One who has offered his extraordinary kindness to bring these people into our lives.
    Elizabeth and her friends expressed great joy at John’s birth. They were in awe, and they delighted in God’s unexpected gift. This was God’s specially anointed miracle God formed to fulfill prophecy! True joy comes to our lives when we understand the Great Miracle God has given us in Jesus. Jesus’ promise, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) is his commitment to completely redeem you from sin’s joy-robbing limitations. He went to the cross to set a pathway into heaven’s eternal wonders. Indeed, our Good Shepherd’s tender mercy to suffer the cross for your sake is the means for true joy! When we understand the depth of Jesus’ humiliation and suffering in our hearts, life’s challenges seem smaller. Irritations diminish; aggravations depart; patience grows; and love prospers. An eternal smile forms on our hearts as we settle our minds into the wonder of God, who adopts us to be his children in Jesus.
    As you consider how God is merciful to you, I pray you know Jesus is Over Your heart each day.
 
Prayer: O what joy I feel, Father, to be your child. I lift up my heart, my hands, my mind to say, “Thank you!” Amen.

I will be gone the next 7 days. God bless you in the interim.