The Joy of the Lord

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant. .. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21

King David wrote, in Psalm 16:11: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of JOY. . . .” After he committed his adulterous sin with Bathsheba, he immediately felt a heavy load of guilt in the absence of God’s presence and sought the Lord’s forgiveness. “Restore unto me the JOY of thy salvation . . . ,” he pleaded in Psalm 51:12a.

His son, King Solomon, followed in his footsteps and acknowledged, “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and JOY. (Ecclesiastes 2:26a)

Jesus talked much about JOY. John 15:11 states:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my JOY might remain in you, and that your JOY might be full.” Part of having “the mind of Christ” is experiencing His JOY. As He prayed for His disciples, He reminded the Father that He spoke the words over them so “that they might have my JOY fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13)

Jesus also gave His followers two promises about JOY: “. . . your JOY no man taketh from you” (John 16:22b); and, “. . . ask, and ye shall receive, that your JOY may be full” (John 16:24b).

PRAY:
“Father God, thank You for the JOY of Your salvation in my soul. Your JOY is my strength,* and my cup runs over* with it every day. Glory to Your Name! Amen.”

*Nehemiah 8:10 and Psalm 23:5c (paraphrased)