Joy of the Lord

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. (Galatians 5:22-23 TPT)
Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)

As we walk as Jesus walked we will have the same fellowship, friendship and oneness with the Father that Jesus has. Jesus lives in perfect and complete love, perfect and complete joy, perfect and complete peace and so on. When the love of the Father is poured into our heart we receive the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. 

The deeper we go in his love the more of this fruit we will experience. The perfection and completeness of love, joy, peace etc will grow in us. 

The wonderful thing about this joy is that it's not our joy, but it's his joy. It is the fruit of his Spirit. There is nothing we need to do to work this up in us, it's a gift that is freely given and one we can freely receive. 

Despite everything that is happening on earth God is supremely content and happy. He rests in his eternal nature of being perfect and complete. 

Our joy is often dependent on our circumstances but his joy is dependent on who he is. As we receive his love so we receive his joy. Our circumstances may not change but when we become dependent on him we experience his joy being released in our heart. Our joy comes and goes, but his never changes. 

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:10 NASB)
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

The joy of the Lord is a consequence of being loved. It is his love being poured into our heart that changes how we feel about ourselves and our circumstances. It's his joy that sets us free and enables us to laugh at our enemies. That's not something we can do out of our own strength. 

James encourages us to seek this joy even in times of difficulty as it will empower us to endure and to experience a fulness of life. 

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NASB)

My prayer today is that his joy will fill your heart as you experience an overwhelming sense of being loved.