FINDING JOY AGAIN….SOURCES OF REAL JOY
The Lord Jesus said to his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) What things had he been speaking about? Why, just abiding in Christ and keeping his commandments. His joy — the very joy of God! Could we desire anything more than that — better than that? Of course, if he dwells in us and lives his life in us, we have his joy.
Reflect on the following verses:
Deuteronomy 16:15B: For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
I Chronicles 16:10: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Nehemiah 8:10B: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Job 8:21: He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.
Job 22:26: Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
Psalm 5:11: But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.
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.
Psalm 19:8: The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
Psalm 21:6: Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
Psalm 28:7: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 31:7: I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
Psalm 35:9: And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.
Psalm 65:8: Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.
Psalm 85:6: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Psalm 89:15: Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
Psalm 90:14: Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 94:19: When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 97:11: Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Psalm 126:3: The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Proverbs 10:28: The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
Proverbs 12:20: Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
Proverbs 15:23: A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Proverbs 21:15: It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
Proverbs 23:16: The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.
Proverbs 27:11: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
Ecclesiastes 2:26: For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight.
Isaiah 12:3: Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 29:19: The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 49:13: Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.
Isaiah 61:10: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Luke 2:10: Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Luke 10:20: However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
John 15:10-11: If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 16:24: Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Romans 5:11: We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 15:13: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:32: That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
I Thessalonians 2:19-20: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
I Thessalonians 3:9: For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God…
Philemon 1:7: For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Hebrews 13:17: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
James 1:2: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials…
I Peter 1:8: Though you have not seen him you love him; and even though you do not see him now you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
II John 1:12: Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
III John 1:3-4: It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Jude 1:24: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…