THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
Part 3a

""Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King"
(Psalm 149:2).

We now discover how the Bible wants us to reveal our joy. The following ten verbs are the opposite to how we feel when we are going through trials. In fact, they seem a little over the top. Isn't it amazing that the Bible always leads us into the fleshly impossible? What we think is normal is abnormal according to Bible standards. We cannot do it in our own flesh, only by the Spirit of God.

There are many Scriptures that use the following words. However, I will give you only a few Scriptures for each one:

1. MAKE MIRTH

Psalm 35:9: "My soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation." The word "rejoice" in this Scripture is suws and means "to make mirth, to be bright." It's not about whether we feel happy or not; it's determining to make mirth. To speak to my soul to be joyful in the Lord. To make everyone else around me happy also.

We either make our home miserable or we make it happy.

Isaiah 61:10: "I will GREATLY REJOICE in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." The words "greatly rejoice" are both the same Hebrew word, suws. They are repeated twice for emphasis!

Why is the prophet rejoicing? Because he has received salvation! Have you been born again by the Spirit of God? Have you received Jesus' wonderful redemption? Then surely you are rejoicing.

What a wonderful redemption,
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, though red like crimson
Can be whiter than the snow.

We will never ever fathom the enormity and fullness of God's salvation for us. Even in eternity, it will take the ages to come to understand it, and then we will never full comprehend it. The least we can do now is GREATLY rejoice.

2. SPIN AROUND

The word "joyful" in Isaiah 61:10 is giyl and means "to spin around (under the influence of violent emotion), to be glad, to be joyful."

This is meant to be our lifestyle because it says in Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." And Psalm 89:16 says: "In thy name shall they rejoice all the day." Each new day the Lord makes for us is a day to be filled with exuberant joy!

3. BRIGHTEN UP

Psalm 40:16: "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified." This same Scripture is repeated in Psalm 70:4. The word "glad" is samach and means "to brighten up, to cheer up, to make merry."

Psalm 31:7: "I will be glad and rejoice (samach) in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities."

Zechariah 2:10: "Sing and rejoice (samach), O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD."

Are you feeling a little down in the dumps today? Worries are burdening your heart? Come on, dear one, brighten up. Don't look at your difficulties. Look up to Jesus. He is bigger than all your problems. He knows the answers. He will give you peace and His "knowing what to do" as you look to Him. Your circumstances may not be very bright, but you can brighten up in Christ!

Do you also notice how the Psalmist confesses: "I WILL be glad"? He doesn't rely on his emotions or circumstances, but he exercises his will. "I WILL brighten up!" Can you say these words aloud right now? I WILL BRIGHTEN UP. You will be amazed how your attitude changes by confessing these words.

4. SHOUT FOR JOY

We are not only to be joyful in our hearts, but to SHOUT for joy.

Psalm 5:11: "Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever SHOUT FOR JOY, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." Do you ever shout for joy?

Psalm 32:11: "Be glad (samach) in the LORD, and rejoice (giyl), ye righteous; and SHOUT FOR JOY (ranan), all ye that are upright in heart." God wants us to be so filled with joy that He uses three different words for joy in this Scripture.

Psalm 132:9, 16: "Her saints shall SHOUT ALOUD FOR JOY." Further Scriptures to read with the word ranan: Psalm 35:27; 51:14;5 9:16; 67:4; 71:23; 81:1; and Isaiah 12:6.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, I thank You than You are my exceeding Joy. I know that my only true joy comes from You. Please help me to always find my joy in You, no matter what difficulties or sorrows I face. Please lead me more and more into Your joy. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I will brighten up. I will make everyone around me happy. I will find my joy in my God. And I will even shout for joy.