Devotions on 'Joy'

This week I was cleaning out some papers and found a stack that looks like notes on a challenge/project I must have done seven or eight years ago. The instructions (in quotation marks below) were printed at the top of the first page, then my notes below that, and the other 'devotional' pages, were handwritten. There is no date on any of the papers, but judging by the handwriting style, and the wording of some of my notes, I'd guess that it was probably around 2011 or 2012. I have absolutely no memory of doing it. I don't know if this 'challenge' was from a blog I followed, a book I read, a camp or conference I attended, or a church small group (Sunday School, Wednesday night youth group, or Thursday night college Bible study). In any case, the topic is 'Joy', and that has been something I've really been struggling with in recent months (years, actually). I thought the timing was interesting that I should find these papers now.
I decided to share these little 'devotionals' here. They are short, most of them just three or four paragraphs, and not 'polished' at all, but I want to record them anyway. A '~' marks the separation between pages.

~

"1) Read and meditate on 8 verses in the Bible that relate to being joyful.
2) Copy or print 2 of the 8 Bible verses and put them in a place that you'll see each day!
3) Journal one blessing per day that brings a smile to your face and reminds you of God's goodness and gift of joy.
4) Thank Jesus Christ for the joy that He has put in your heart. Pray that He will shine through the joy on your face and that He will use your testimony of JOY to bring others closer to Him.
5) Be prepared at the end of this month to post your thoughts, Bible verses on Joy, and 5 blessings that made you smile!!!"


Bestowed Joy -
Ecc. 2:26 - God giveth wisdom, knowledge, and joy
Zeph. 3:17 - joy over thee with singing
Luke 24:41 - they believed not for joy

Commanded Joy -
Phil. 4:4 - Rejoice in the LORD
Is. 24:14&15 - islands singing

Blessed Joy -
Ps. 126:3 - The LORD hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
Is. 12:3 - with joy draw waters out of the well of salvation

Fellowship Joy -
Philemon 1:7 - great joy in thy love

Salvation Joy -
1 Pet. 1:8 - rejoice with joy unspeakable
Jude 1:24 - present you with joy

Empowering Joy -
Neh. 8:10 - the joy of the LORD is your strength
Ps. 16: - fullness of joy

~

Bestowed Joy
"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:..."
Ecclesiastes 2:26

This verse can be really convicting if we allow it to speak to us.
Everyone who has been saved may be considered 'good' in the sight of God, for their sin is covered by Christ, and He is what God sees. However, a saved person's actions are not always 'good'. Many times, though we are saved, we fall back into the ways of sin. Those times obviously are not pleasing to the LORD.
To me, the verse seems to be implying a message similar to that of James 1: If you want, truly want, the LORD to give us some good thing (like wisdom or Joy) we must ask. And we must be sincere in our asking. If we are saved but living like we don't care, dare we think God will just automatically bestow all these righteous qualities on us? Seems mighty presumptuous to me.
Let us live 'good'. Let our lives ask, and He will freely give all good things.

~

Commanded Joy
"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." 
Philippians 4:4 

Practice counting your blessings, and Joy will begin to come naturally. Make it a way of life! We have so many reasons to be joyful, period!, but what more wonderful reason is there to be glad than to think that Jesus, the Son of God, is our LORD?! There is none! Sure, difficult times come, and come often. We will get discouraged, hurt, or angered. But we aren't commanded to be 'happy'. Happiness depends on immediate circumstances. Joy looks to eternity. 
He is our Friend. He is our Brother. He is our Life! Rejoice! 

~ 

Blessed Joy 
"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
Psalm 126:3 

The joy and thanksgiving that the Psalmist felt here is just flying off the page. You can feel his enthusiasm, his gratefulness, and his worship of the One Who blesses. 
This verse in itself has been a blessing to me, for it expresses so simply, yet so adequately, the emotion I often feel. 
Great things! He has done great things for us! And we are glad. 
But here's another thought. He blesses us abundantly - but do we take time to thank Him for those blessings?
This may just be my interpretation, but I think that an inseparable part of true joy is it's expression - and what higher way to express it than to be thankful to Him Who gives it in the first place?! If someone is not thankful, they are not truly joyful. They may be happy - but not joyful. Take the story of the 10 lepers in the Bible. Jesus healed them all, and they were all glad. But one was truly joyful and he had to express it

~

Fellowship Joy 
"For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." 
Philemon 1:7 

It almost seems as if Paul here is writing what we'd call now-a-days a 'friendly letter' to Philemon. This dear friend and brother in Christ was evidently a very righteous man, someone who could be depended upon, and of a loving, compassionate, nature - an encourager. 
Paul and Timothy had been blessed and comforted in his love. And not only in his love toward them - but also because of his love toward "the saints". Sometimes it is just as much of a blessing to experience friendship for others you love, as it is to be given friendship yourself. 
Whatever the case was, Philemon was a believer who brought Joy to other believers. 
Personal application: I am blessed with several dear friends who I can truly say I "have great joy and consolation" in. They are my brothers and sisters in the LORD, and we are family! The LORD has increased the joy in my life through the love of these dear friends. 
Am I a friend who gives others Joy? 

~

Salvation Joy 
"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" 
1 Peter 1:8 
(ideally, verses 3-9)

It is almost necessary to start back at verse 3 to get the full context for this verse. Peter is encouraging the believers in the "temptations" or trials they are going through. These things are only for a little time and are relatively insignificant when compared with the awesomeness of Salvation, our unworthiness as recipients of such a gift, and the indescribable magnitude of eternity with Christ!
He has raised us from the lowest, most despicable position that such vile, repulsive creatures could come to and given us an incorruptible inheritance, shared with the most holy and pure being ever to exist - His Son. 
Considering this, it is totally reasonable that He seek to "try (our faith) with fire" that it may be found at the end, to glorify and honor this One Who gave Himself to give us Hope! And though we have never seen Him, yet we believe He has accomplished all - this belief caused (for the believers addressed here) a joy that was "unspeakable" with it's magnitude. 
Now for the personal application: I began to think on these verses, and was struck with this thought, 'When have I been so amazed and grateful for the Salvation He has given me that my joy was "unspeakable"? How often have I been speechless in the presence of such sacrifice? Not often enough. 

~

Empowering Joy 
"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 
Nehemiah 8:10 

This is an interesting verse to me. The meaning of this phrase really hit me only a few days ago. I think that most people probably think - even unconsciously, like I did - that it's saying, in effect, "Be joyful, for the LORD will give you strength". But it doesn't! It says, "The joy of the LORD is your strength"! Their strength was in their Joy! It was their strength! Once I realized that, it was so neat to think of it that way, and really provided some 'food for thought'! 

~

Book Review: "Powerful Prayers for Your Son" by Rob and Joanna Teigen

Powerful Prayers for Your Son: Praying for Every Part of His Life by Rob Teigen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


“Powerful Prayers for Your Son” is the second book I have read by Rob and Joanna Teigen, and I was even more blessed by this one. I read “101 Prayers for My Son” a couple of years ago, and enjoyed and appreciated it immensely. When I saw the newly-released “Powerful Prayers for Your Son”, and “Powerful Prayers for Your Daughter”, I knew I wanted to read them, and have not been disappointed in the “Son” version! “Powerful Prayers for Your Son” is like an expanded, fuller version of the pocket-sized book “101 Prayers for My Son” by the same authors.

Full of meaningful and heart-felt prayers, and including encouraging stories and helpful advice, this book is a wonderful companion to Bible study or personal prayer time for the young men in one’s life. Even if you have no personal sons, this book is still excellent to use as a guide in how to pray for any boys or young men you may know. This book covers thoughts and prayers on almost any topic or challenge a young man will face. I will be recommending it to my friends who are parents of sons!

I received this book from Revell Reads free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.