EXUBERANT JOY
It’s easy to allow an event or a circumstance in our lives to define us—maybe it’s a broken marriage, maybe the loss of a job, maybe family troubles. We wrongly think, “There’s nothing I can do to ever get out of this or make things better.” Sometimes, we can get so distracted by our circumstances that all we do is give up and lose hope. Because we don’t see where we’re going, we have a tendency to just stop and settle right where we are. What you have to realize is that where you are right now is not your final destination. If you’re going to see the fullness of God’s promises in your life, you have to develop the ability to see beyond where you are right now. God has amazing things in store for you, but your eyes have to be lifted up to see Him and what He is doing.
TO THE BIBLE:
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.”_
LET’S TALK
Joy is a product of the recreated human spirit. Some people haven’t understood the power of a joyful and merry heart; otherwise, they’d always let the joy of the Lord that’s in their spirit gain the mastery. It’s possible to experience indescribable joy every day. Our opening scripture says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore,” meaning that the divine influence of God upon your life—the presence of God in your spirit—brings indescribable joy to your life. That’s what the Bible describes as joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8 KJV).
The good thing about joy is that it never comes alone. When it comes into your spirit, it comes with laughter, gladness, and happiness. It removes heaviness and gloom from you, such that when people see you, instead of asking, *“What’s the problem?”* they’ll say, *“You’re looking radiant; share the good news with us.”* Choose to always be joyful! It’s your responsibility to keep the joy of the Spirit bubbling in your life. Whenever something tries to bother or depress you, don’t submit to it. Rather, consciously subdue it with the joy of the Lord from within your spirit by laughing your way
to victory.
Remember, laughter is one of the characteristics of a joyful and merry heart. So, when the laughter of the Spirit wells up in your heart like that, don’t try to stop it. Keep laughing until you saturate your spirit with joy. That way, not only are you declaring your victory, but the devil and his demons will be discomfited, because they can’t stand an atmosphere of joy, love, and gladness.
GO DEEPER
Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 12:3; Romans 14:17
SPEAK
_I live in the presence of God where I experience joy unspeakable and full of glory. Today, my life is filled with indescribable joy, and my mouth is filled with laughter. I’m strengthened because the joy of the Lord in my spirit is my strength, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
ACT
Stand in front of your mirror and laugh out loud and let the joy of the Lord bubble up from your spirit.
My Notes