Connecting The Dots - Week 20 (Joy)

  Connecting The Dots – Week 20 (Joy)

Key Verse: “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Psalms 28:6-7 NIV)

“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” –Rick Warren

It’s really easy to read the key verse above and this wonderful quote by Pastor Rick, then breathe a deep sigh of relief, resting in the knowledge that every single idea encapsulated in both is true.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)

However, our simply understanding the definition of “Joy” usually isn’t enough on its own to be a foundation for peace in the midst of life’s unpredictable peaks and valleys. In order for Joy to be real every day, we must endeavor daily to understand the person and identity of its source, our Abba Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Being intimately aware of all three is key to our Joy because all three are not only alive in our hearts at all times, but they are all similarly at all times jealous to know us. (John 1:1-4 NASB), (John 15:4-11 NASB), (James 4:5, 8 NASB)

•...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23 NASB)

 

•The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV)

Knowing the One to whom we belong (God), in combination with knowing who we really are (our identity in Him) now gives us a clear enough picture to pursue those basic components of “Joy” that we can take into the world daily as the material that will weather every storm and quicken our hearts to the assurance of the hope that we have. (Matthew 7:24-25 NASB), (Matthew 16:15-18 NASB)

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some examples of Joy in your life the way that God defines it?

2. What are some areas of your life that you will determine to effect with God’s Joy?

Ref. Scriptures: (Romans 14:17 NASB), (Galatians 5:22-24 NASB), (Psalms 16:11 NASB), Nehemiah 8:10 NASB), (Philippians 4:4-8 NASB), (John 16:20 NASB), (Psalms 30:4-5)