Express Joy

In God's presence is fullness of joy (see Psalm 16:11), therefore joy is completely independent of circumstances and feelings. God's kind of joy is spiritual. One of the verses I speak most often is: This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NKJV. In so doing, I regularly declare that joy is my decision and I choose joy. I command myself to rejoice. It does not mean I like every season and circumstance. It means I choose to live in the joy of the Lord. Sometimes it is a battle, but it is a battle won in Christ Jesus.

God's Word would not instruct us to do something we cannot do. We are told to "shout for joy", "count it all joy", and "rejoice in the Lord". We do this with our mouths and even with our bodies. This also teaches us the power of our words. Our words can bring what is spiritual into the natural. We need not wait until we feel joyful before we express joy. The fullness of joy is in God's presence. We access it by faith. 1 Peter 1:8-9 links faith and joy.

Faith agrees with the Word of God regardless of circumstances. We walk by faith not by sight (see Hebrews 11:1). This applies to joy. We can command our body and mind to accept the preeminence of God's Word and live from God's presence (where there is fullness of joy) rather than our earthly present.

Express joy as you Write the Scriptures below:

Psalm 66:1-3

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

Psalm 33:1

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.

Psalm 30:5

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Acts 13:52

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) or English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

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