Dancing for Joyfeatured

I wrote another devotional on joy, but for some reason the Holy Spirit decided that I needed to write another one.  Perhaps it is because we often miss out on the joy that God wants us to experience.  God’s desire is for us to be filled with joy, His joy, all the time.

The concept of 24/7 joy seems to be a lofty aspiration but it will be our destiny in Heaven.  Here on Earth, it often seems elusive, but I think there is more joy available to us than we actually access.

I have found my problem (and perhaps yours?) is that I seek joy in circumstances and in outcomes.  The truth is that joy doesn’t reside in circumstances or outcomes.  Joy is a God thing.  He is the creator and essence of joy.  I have found that deep, profound and abiding joy is a byproduct of my relationship with Him.  Psalm 16:11 says, “…You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”  He is our richest blessing and our deepest joy.

Ironically obedience, a word that stirs up a very unholy sense of rebellion in me, is one behavior that offers a big dose of joy.  When I felt God’s call to write these devotionals and post them on a website, my first response was – I don’t know how to do that.  However,  uncharacteristically I pretty quickly moved to obedience.  In that moment I had one of the most profound experiences of joy that I have ever had. 

Psalm 19:8 tells us “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”  In obedience to Him, we acknowledge (consciously or unconsciously) several things that are key to our joy in Him:

• He loves us and knows what is best for us
• We trust Him because of His love
• He is in control and we are not
• He has a plan that is better than our own plans
• At the end of the day, we will be with Him and experience 24/7 joy  forever!

When we obey, we are walking with God along the path that He has created uniquely for us.  I love that mental picture – maybe I’ll have to try and paint that!

After I finished the tree in the painting above, I thought that the tree looked like it was about bust into a dance move out of sheer joy.  So, I named the painting “Dancing for Joy.”  The verse that accompanies this painting is: “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”  Psalm 30:11.   I think God longs for us to find that joy in Him.  The joy comes when we know Him so well and trust Him so much, that we respond in obedience to His will for us.

Sometimes we may think that God saves the joy for the big acts of obedience.  In reality, He offers me multiple opportunities to obey Him each day, but I must be willing to look for them.  The joy found in obedience won’t always move you to elation or to burst into spontaneous dancing, but if it does – go for it!  I have found that joy is sometimes a deep, profound sense of peace and well-being that has nothing to do with what is going on around me.  It is a quieter joy, but it is still joy!

I need the Holy Spirit to remind my rebellious spirit of the joy waiting for me if  I simply respond in obedience to Him!  I pray that all of us will open our eyes to His opportunities for joy each and every day and respond in obedience.  Joy awaits!   [jetpack_subscription_form]