Question and answer: “Are we supposed to be full of joy every day?”

We have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, not in lemon juice! It is hard to be joyful everyday, yet, if we understand that God has saved us, and that He is with us as we discover His great plan, we should experience joy. A plastic smile is not joy! We all have hard times, and God has given us emotions, and sometimes it is right for us to be grieved or upset.

Romans 14:17 ‘For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’

Joy in not just an outward appearance, but it is the happiness we receive as we trust God and enjoy His presence and calling in our lives. When the storm arose on the lake the disciples were petrified but Jesus was fast asleep, Matthew 8:23-27.

Wisdom: If we walk right with God and man, and obey the Holy Spirit, we should experience His Joy Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:3-4.

Fact: “Do not worry about tomorrow; every day has enough trouble of its own”, Matthew 6:34. In God’s strength, take one day at a time.

Psalm 16:11 ‘You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore’

Don’t worry if you don’t feel full of joy in difficult circumstances. Press on and ask for God’s help. ‘Looking unto Jesus...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of God’ Hebrews 12:1-3. If we praise God, it helps take our minds off of our circumstances, and we feel more confident in His presence Psalm 32:11, 35:27, 43:4,149:6.

Sin in our lives hinders our joy, Psalm 51:12. Repent of your sin and return to the presence of God. Don’t focus on the problems in hard times, but focus on God’s power and promises to help you. Joy cannot be forced, but we can learn to live in His presence where there is fullness of joy.

Think: Am I filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit?

More Info: Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 42:5, 63:5, 89:15, Isaiah 12:3, 26:3, Habakkuk 3:18,19, Luke 10:17-20, John 15:10, 2 Corinthians 7:4, Acts 8:5-8.

Visit the interactive version of this course online. www.byfaith.co.uk © 2003 ByFaith Media.