9 powerful ways to receive joy in the Lord
We live in a fallen world where the news is filled with sadness, hospitals are filled with sickness and people are walking around with hearts heavier than ever.
Maybe it’s the economy, perhaps it’s health-related, or maybe it’s discord within your workplace or family. This world has a wealth of sorrow to give and no one can escape the lemons that life sometimes serves. But, what if I told you there is a cure for the sorrows of life?
We can never avoid the storms of life. There’s a purpose for them. But, we can weather them like an experienced captain amid a tough storm at sea.
This article came about one day as I was feeling the pressures of life. I started to reminisce on all the days I had spent worrying about things I couldn’t control or letting anger take up my time and space.
At work, I’m constantly reminded of how fragile and short life is. One accident, even one word can change the course of someone’s future.
I realized how wasteful it was for me to live a life not fully embracing the joy of the Lord. I didn’t want to spend another minute being reactive to what’s going on around me, but proactive. As I made up my mind, God started to speak to my spirit.
He started to explain to me things that I could do to reclaim my joy and live the life He sacrificed for me to have to the fullest despite circumstances.
In this article, I want to share what God showed me about the fruit of the spirit—joy.
What does it mean to have the joy of the Lord?
The fruit of the spirit, joy, is the supernatural feeling of contentment and peace despite circumstances as a result of the knowledge of God and His promises.
True joy in the Bible
Joy is not something good happening to you resulting in an instant release of dopamine leaving you feeling satisfied. Joy is an emotion you feel regardless of circumstances and behaviors around you.
True joy in the Lord is an emotion of your choosing and the result of walking in the spirit of God and bearing its fruits. It stems from within.
Joy from the Lord is knowing that God is in control and resting in the assurance of His love and the salvation he bought for you.
Paul was a great example of someone who experienced true joy in the Bible. While enduring suffering, Paul harnessed the joy of the lord to help him endure many trials and tribulations. I’m talking about imprisonment and persecution, yet still rejoicing and encouraging others in Christ.
What does the Bible say about finding joy in God
The following bible verses share the answer to who the true source of our joy is– God. The joy of the Lord can provide us with strength, hope, and the courage to endure whatever circumstances this life may bring. These scriptures were written to remind us that the joy we receive from God is the strong and stable anchor we need during our greatest times of need.
So, if your joy meter is low today, here are some scriptures about joy from the Lord to reinvigorate your soul.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
Psalm 118:24
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:19
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 5:11
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
1 Chronicles 16:27
9 insightful ways to find joy in the Lord
Here are some practical tips that God gave me to ensure I choose God’s joy every day.
Spend time with the Lord
Joy and peace come from God. As the saying goes birds of a feather flock together. Allow His joy and characteristics to spill over onto you as you spend time with Him.
Then it will be like a domino effect. The joy you have can spill over to others. Remember, we are called to be the light of the world, the salt of earth.
This is not to say that negative emotions won’t arise and we are to be happy every second or it will be displeasing to God. What I want to convey is that when we spend time with God, it puts us in a position to live up to that calling.
Speak over your day
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21
There is power in the tongue. We should all be speaking life over our day. And I mean this is something that should be done within the first few minutes of getting up. (Gotta chop Satan off at the neck.)
Satan doesn’t fight fair and I’ve found that sometimes I’ve had to do this in the middle of the night when he is trying to fill my mind with worry.
We must speak to those spirits in the heavenly realm. Rebuke what bothers your soul. Be proactive about your day (or night) instead of reactive.
Being intentional about your time, thoughts, words, and thus behaviors will keep you on high alert and set you up for success as you guard your heart and mind in God.
Here are some things that I have been confessing over my life.
“Today will be a great day because God has already equipped me with everything that I need to be victorious.”
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“I will not be led by my flesh, but by the Spirit of God within me.”
Even when I’m on the treadmill, I start speaking God’s word and find joy in my exercises no matter how much I’m struggling. We know that God has called us to take care of our physical bodies and God has made this a point to me.
So when the spirit of laziness tries to enter, I turn up my worship music and start to speak.
“God, thank you that by your stripes, I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“God I thank you that high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, cancer, and any other ailments will not come near my body.”
God thank you for the ability to walk, see, and get this workout in.”
When I do this, I get a little pep in my step as my mindset and perspective instantly change. This is because I started to focus more on God and His promises instead of my current feelings.
Commit to allowing God to be the source of your joy, not situations
When I was younger, I used to say, “When I finish school, then I’ll be happier.” Another example is “When my vacation arrives, then I’ll have more fun.
To be honest, when I finished school, that brought more tests I had to pass as God molded (and continues to do so) me spiritually. And when the vacation comes, it could rain or those 5-7 days are up in the blink of an eye.
Now, what are you going to do? We have to start finding joy in the climb just as much as we do the destination. This is why so many may feel like the climb was a waste of time. It wasn’t.
If we inadvertently rely on circumstances of life to bring us joy, we will be on an emotional roller coaster. And this will take you on the ride of your life. You’ll be down one minute and on top of the world the next.
This is the quickest way for your joy to be stolen. All it takes is one obstacle thrown into your day and poof–joy is killed.
So my message to you is to commit to seeking joy every second of every hour of your day regardless of the circumstances. Enjoy the climb. God’s got you.
Kill comparison
This has become one of my favorite sayings. God created no two people alike. Thus, comparing yourself to someone else in God’s eyes is like comparing apples and rice (yep I meant to type that).
Comparison is the thief of joy. You’ll never find the beauty in your garden if you are too busy admiring and trying to make yours like others.
Whenever I tried to march to the beat of someone else’s drum, my life was like a chaotic orchestra. This is because I wasn’t in God’s will for what He had for me.
When we start to love on ourselves a little more and appreciate the masterpiece that God created in every one of us, there is no room for comparison to break in and rob us of our joy.
The only person we should be comparing ourselves to is Jesus. He is the standard, not a flawed human being like you and me.
Remember, you were born to stand out for God and to stand tall in His confidence.
Practice gratitude
When life has been beating us down, bitterness can take root. This is an emotion that every person should avoid like the plague. A bitter heart is an express train ride to all kinds of sins and a hardened heart.
Bitterness keeps you from seeing the beauty and goodness in life. Unfortunately, this is exactly where the enemy wants you.
The cure to bitterness is a thankful heart in the Lord. When you start to practice gratitude, it changes your perspective, helping you to see as God sees.
When you see and think like the Lord, you regain your sense of compassion, love, and forgiveness. You also regain your joy for life.
Forgive quickly
People will fail you in this world. That’s a given as no one is perfect. Unforgiveness tends to gnaw at you. Meanwhile, the other party is going about their business.
What helped me just a few weeks ago was remembering how God forgave me as I was praying “forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Give offenses to God, forgive, and take back your joy.
Partake in things that bring you joy
I find that when I’m cooped up inside all day, it takes a toll on me. Even at the hospital, just stealing a moment to myself with a quick walk outside in the sun restores and recharges me.
God created each of us differently. So whatever that thing is that brings you joy, do more of it (as long as it’s pleasing to God of course).
Take care of yourself
Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating a proper diet? Are you taking mental breaks?
None of us should be ruled by our flesh. However, God designed us to require rest and sleep. He emulated this when He, Himself rested on the seventh day (even though He didn’t need to).
When we lack our basic needs, we can grow irritable, and in the long run, risk burnout. Self-care is a part of soul care.
I’m not talking about the world’s version of self-care which often involves overindulgence and overconsumption. I’m talking about exercising, eating well, and sleeping well, among other things. AKA being good stewards of God’s temple (our bodies).
Be still and trust God.
Some circumstances will occur in your life that will be totally out of your control. But, always remember that everything must submit to God’s authority. And with that knowledge, it becomes easier for joy to flow in.
Find the beauty in today. Don’t reminisce on what has been or what could’ve been. It all happened with God in control and He will always be. We have the advantage of knowing exactly what his plans are—to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
We can’t move forward if we focus is on what’s behind us. Find the beauty in the here and now—in the what is. God is working, but the fruit of the spirit patience is required on your end.
Remind yourself frequently of God’s words.
The enemy distorts God’s word for his gain and your downfall. His lies usually consist of a bit of truth to make you think it’s from God, but the majority is a whole lot of untruth and things contradictory to God’s word.
As the Bible says, the truth will set you free. Always be ready to remind yourself of God’s promises and rebuke negative thoughts no matter what happens.
You can always trust God. He is a master strategist working all things for your good. Keep his promises on your tongue.
Final words of encouragement regarding the joy of the lord
Remember that true joy does not stem from your emotions and the circumstances unfolding around you. It’s a gift that lies and is brought forth from within.
In this article, we have discussed what it means to have joy in the Lord, explored Bible verses on it, and discussed tips to help you seize joy every day. I hope it helps.
Also, if you enjoyed this article, please help my ministry by sharing it with someone who may need a reminder. All the best.
Until next time,
-Dr Jay.
