 Did you know that God wants you to have joy?
If you look up the words joy, rejoice, rejoicing, sing, singing, praise, praising, and praised in the Bible, you will find their combined total to be 745 times. (Not all of these are in direct reference to praising God, but the majority of them are.) With that many mentions, I believe that God is pretty serious about us praising Him and having joy! How Does A Person Receive Joy? 1) We must know the Lord through salvation, since God is joy and the giver of true joy. Psalm 13:5 - "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." 2) We must spend time with the Lord. John 15:4, 11 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." If we do not spend time with God it is impossible to grow in having joy. Psalm 16:11 ~ "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." 3) We must be obedient. Psalm 119:1- "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD." 4) We must keep a right relationship with the Lord though confessing any sins. Psalm 51:10-12 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." 5) We must be meek (humble) before the Lord. Isaiah 29:19 ~ " The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." 6) We must allow the Holy Spirit to control us and give us of His fruit. The more time we spend with the Lord the more His fruit will be evident through our lives. Galatians 5:22,23 ~ " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 7) We must remember that Jesus is our example of joy, and we must seek His help to have joy. Hebrews 12:2 ~ " Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Reasons We Can Have Joy 1) The comfort and redemption that God gives us. Isaiah 52:9 - "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem." 2) God gives us strength. Psalm 21:1 ~ "The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!" 3) God made us exactly the way He wanted us to be, and He is always with us. Psalm 139:14, 17, 18 ~ "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." Why we may not always be or feel joyous and what we must do to live joyfully: 1) Sin can rob us of joy, so we must confess our sin to God and He will restore joy to our hearts (Psalm 32:5, 11). 2) Difficult situations can discourage us. The prophet Habakkuk was discouraged because the people of Israel were not listening to God's message, but He determined that he would still rejoice in the Lord no matter what was happening around him (Habakkuk 3). 3) Bitterness, toward others who seem to have a better life than we do, hinders us from living with joy. Psalm 73:3 ~ " For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." But the Psalmist continues in verses 16 - 18~ " When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didest set them in slippery places: Thou castest them down into destruction." We must also remember that God judges all with perfect righteousness (Psalm 64:4) There are others things as well that can hinder our joy, so ask the Lord to show you what may be keeping you from experiencing joy, then confess any sin to Him and choose to let Him help you have joy. Also, listening to and singing Christ-honoring music every day helps us be joyful. How Joy is described in the Bible: ~ Everlasting - Isaiah 35:10 ~ No man can take it from us - John 10:22 ~ great - I Kings 1:40 and many other verses ~ fullness - Psalm 16:11 ~ exceeding - Psalm 43:4 ~ all - Romans 15:13 ~ unspeakable - you cannot explain it - I Peter 1:8 Remember, God wants us to have and express joy each and every day; and we can because of Who He is and what He has done for us. As we spend time with the Lord and think about His goodness in every area our joy will grow and show. Let's be a people of joy!  The Hidden Joy In our fast paced world, we are trained to avoid discomfort at all costs. We view "blessings" as synonymous with ease, prosperity, and a life free of friction. But the gospel offers a different perspective: (sometimes) the greatest sign that you are exactly where you are supposed to be is the presence of opposition. 1 Peter 4:12-13 reminds us: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ." The Validation of the Struggle It feels contradictory to say that suffering is a blessing. However, when we face trials because of our faith or our commitment to the Lord, it serves as a validation. Light naturally disrupts the darkness. If we are moving in the same direction as the world, you won't feel any wind resistance; it is only when you turn and walk against the current that you feel the pressure. Suffering for the Lord is often the "spiritual friction" that confirms you are no longer part of the world. It means your life is distinct enough to be noticed and your light is bright enough to be felt. That you are a threat to the darkness. Shifting from Endurance to Rejoicing The call for the weary believer isn't just to "tough it out" through the pain. We are invited to something much more: rejoicing. James 1:2-4 tells us:"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." When we rejoice it builds character. Trials act as a test, stripping away the unknown sin and leaving behind a faith that is proven and pure. Rejoicing creates intimacy with the Lord. There is a closeness that is only found in the "fellowship of His sufferings." When the world pulls away, He draws nearer. Don’t Give Up If you feel exhausted by the weight of your convictions, rejoice. The weariness you feel is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of your humanity meeting a divine calling. You are doing exactly what you were meant to do: living a life that reflects God's kingdom. Remember the promise in Galatians 6:9:"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." When we rejoice in the midst of suffering, we take away the enemy’s greatest weapon. We prove that our joy isn't tied to our circumstances, but to our Savior. So, keep going. Don’t let the friction slow you down—let it remind you that you’re finally heading in the right direction.  Did you know that butterflies shed scales when they fly? It’s true: over their lifetime, the friction of flapping and flying naturally rubs their scales, causing them to shed a little at a time. As a result, older butterflies appear more faded, as they have spent their life cycle dropping a little “dust” wherever they go.
Perhaps we, as believers, could draw inspiration from our colorful flyers. What if we left a little bit of our Saviour behind every interaction we had with others? How different would our world be if we made that conscious choice? Such an impact can only be done with attention and intention. Letting Christ be Known Butterflies spend their life ensuring that there will be another generation by collecting nectar and laying eggs. They have no idea the impact they are making, but are merely faithful in their calling. Every flower they touch helps pollinate, ensuring that the buds will bloom and provide for future butterflies. Everywhere they go, they leave a little of themselves behind, never realizing the difference their actions create. Christ calls us to do the same. We help pave the way for the next generation to know Christ by the way we live and the things we invest in. Individuals with this mindset weigh their decisions against eternity. They understand that their lives were not given to them to spend on themselves but invested in others. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:13-14 They see those around them as someone to love, made in the image of God, in need of a Saviour, and tell them the Good News. A follower of Christ who desires to make Christ known also recognizes that their lifestyle has a tremendous influence on those around them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 Just as a butterfly leaves a little of itself behind wherever it goes, we have the same ability, and, like the butterfly, we have a limited number of days to do so. The Effects of the Dust A person filled with the Spirit drops a little bit of kindness, a splash of joy, a dash of peace, and a touch of patience into each interaction with someone. Their presence is missed when they leave, but it also motivates others to pursue Christ more. Their words are marked with gentleness and encouragement. Such people notice when someone is hurting or upset and ask why. They bless someone with their conversation, leaving that person feeling better. Those who follow Christ are aware of others' needs and seek to help, whether through their own means or by pointing out those who can assist. They are warm, empathetic people who make a person feel seen, loved, and heard. Their hearts radiate Jesus. Everyone who engages with a follower of Jesus should walk away sensing their Saviour. They should see the difference He makes in their lives, leaving them curious to know their Redeemer better. That is what happens when we follow the butterfly's example and leave a little dust behind. Leave a Little Dust Behind The Proverbs 31 Woman is a beautiful picture of someone whose life leaves a little butterfly dust wherever she goes. Her community knew her as a woman who cared for the poor and needy. She actively sought to help in any way she could. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20 Her words were filled with the fruit of the Spirit and reflected the heart of her Lord. Everyone in her village benefited from her words of wisdom and kindness. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26 The Proverbs 31 woman was trustworthy and reliable. Her husband’s heart never worried about her or what she said about him, because her interactions with him and others proved she was a safe place for him. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Proverbs 31:11 No matter where she went, people couldn't help but sing her praises, specifically her family. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Proverbs 31:29 Her actions left a little dust behind, blessing each person. Everyone in town knew the source of her dust: her relationship with God. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 Her walk with God was her number one priority and pursuit. He is the One whose love changes us into His image and enables us to leave a little bit of dust on each person we touch. When we walk in our own strength, we will leave nothing behind but hurt, pain, and wounds. It is only when we surrender our lives to Christ, pursue Him with all that is in us, that we transform from an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly capable of leaving a little dust behind. Let’s be people who leave behind a trail of dust that points others to Christ, the One who loves them with an everlasting love. |
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