Dr. Rick Mandl - September 3, 2020
Got Joy?
Got Joy?
Thursday, September 2, 2020
Hey church family. This week I was reading a devotional by A.W. Tozer on the subject of “Joy” and he said something that stuck with me. He said, “If you have lost the joy of the Lord in your life, Who moved, you or God? For in his presence is fullness of Joy.” In case you’re not familiar with it Tozer was quoting Psalm 16:11 which says, "Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
A. W. Tozer, suggested several ways for the believer to achieve real joy:
#1.Cultivate a genuine friendship with God because He is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.
#2. Take time to exercise yourself daily unto godliness. Vow never to be dishonest about sin in your life, never to defend yourself, never to own anything (or let anything own you), never to pass on anything hurtful about others, never to take any glory to yourself.
#3. No known sin must be allowed to remain in your life. “Keep short accounts with God” – Never allow unconfessed sins to pile up in your life.
#4. Set out to build your own value system based on the Word of God. Meditate on the Word; practice the presence of God. Set priorities as you realize what is truly important. It will be reflected in the standard of values you set for yourself.
#5. Share your spiritual discoveries with others.
It’s been said that a joyless Christian is a contradiction in terms. After all “Joy” is one of the fruit of the spirit that God desires to see growing in you and me, and in John 15 Jesus told us that the way to experience it is to remain closely connected to Him. In John 15:7-11 Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. "
Yes, your joy will overflow! Doesn’t that sound great? Over-flowing Joy? Jesus said it comes to us as a result of walking closely with Him. May we be people who have that walk, and as a result experience that joy – Amen!
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