The JOY of the Lord

We sing a song based upon a passage in Psalms, “The Joy of the Lord will be my Strength.” What an encouraging thought.

Joy, the second fruit of the Holy Spirit listed by Paul in Galations, is an emotion that comes by walking in step with the Spirit. Oh, to be Spirit-filled and thus filled with JOY.

Christine and I came across a plaque in a little shop in Fredericksburg this week that we just had to buy. I’m not really a nick-nack kind-of guy but the saying on it was so good and encouraging that we bought it anyway.

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything’s perfect…It means you decided to see beyond the imperfections.”

Isn’t that powerful. I meet miserable people all of the time who are whining and complaining about how life isn’t treating them right or because they aren’t getting what they deserve. Or, they’re pointing out all of the imperfections in others, continuously criticizing everything and everyone. And you know what, there is NO JOY.

Seeing all of the imperfections in life and in others does not bring JOY. It destroys it. Maybe that’s why Paul encouraged us to take every thought captive for Christ. He also encourages us to focus on that which is good, honorable and admireable. If anything is worthy of praise, let us put our attention on such things. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to ‘fix out eyes on Jesus,’ a much better focus than all of the imperfections in this life.

Yes, the world is imperpect. It’s doesn’t take an ounce of maturity to point out all of the failings of people. It does take maturity to see the imperfect in others and still remain positive and to be encouraging.

Oswald Chambers, in his excellent devotional book “My Utmost for His Highest” suggested that the Lord allows us to see the imperfections in others not so that we would criticize or judge them, but rather so that we would better know how to interceed for them. Now there’s a novel thought. Do you see something imperfect in someone or something, PRAY!

I believe that a Joyful Spirit and a judging spirit cannot live in the same person. They cannot coexist.

Needing some joy this week? Try walking in the Spirit rather than the flesh and you may find yourselves filled with the JOY of the Lord which will strengthen you in your inner being and refresh your soul. Do you see something “imperfect” in something or someone, rather than judge and criticize, try PRAYER! Who knows, you might be filled with another fruit of the Spirit called PEACE:)

PEACE and JOY. JOY and PEACE. Now those two walk side by side.

May the JOY of the Lord be your strength today!