Christian Living

JOY IN THE LORD

by GLENN PEASE
02/10/23
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Psalm 37:4

New International Version
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Good News Translation
Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire.
NET Bible
Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers.

Any child who delights in his father will have a father who will delight in meeting his needs and his desires. What child would say to their father, "I love you dad, and would love to go to the park and play today," would have a loving father refuse such a desire? They would be delighted to fill the request of such a loving child. The point is, our relationship with God is much the same as our relationship with our earthly father. He is our Father in heaven, and He loves to please those who love and delight in Him.

Read what David says in Psalm 36:7-9, "7How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! 8They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights. 9For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.…" Delight in God and He will delight in you. Find joy in your heavenly Father, and you will have found the key to happiness. Our problem as believers is that we tend to delight in God's favors rather than in God Himself. Delighting in God is loving Him and experiencing joy in who He is, and not just what He gives us. It is easy to delight in things, but it takes more effort to enjoy God for Himself. Even unbelievers delight in the good things God has provided for us in this world, but they do not delight in the Lord Himself.

It is our great joy to delight in God's creation and all of its beauty He has provided for our enjoyment. In His providential guidance of history He has given to us great blessings beyound measure. The blessings of great music, and great medicine, and great marvels of science have given us daily delight for which we praise Him. The list is endless for the delights we have, and we need to be ever thankful for them all, but we also need to develop our delight in God. This involves us in getting more personal with God, and loving Him as a person and not just a resource of blessings. When we delight in Him as our Lord, it makes Him happy to make us happy.

I quoted an unknown poet in another place dealing with thanksgiving. It has to do with thanksgiving, not for God's many gifts, but for God Himself.

My God
Today I kneel to say
"I thank you for You."
For once my prayer holds no request,
No names of friends for you to bless.

Because I think even You,
Might sometimes like a prayer that’s new.
Might like to hear somebody pray,
Who has no words but thanks to say.

Somebody satisfied and glad
For all the joys that he has had,
And so I say again,
"I THANK YOU, LORD FOR YOU."

How often have you thanked God just for who He is, and not just for what He gives?We tend to forget that He loves to be loved for who He is. Delight youself in the Lord, and not just His gifts only. STARLA NEWSLETTER shares this study on the internet. "How many times is the word rejoice found in the Bible?

In the King James version, according to Answers.com,
the word – rejoice – appears 194 times
the word – rejoiced – appears 45 times
the word – rejoicest – appears once
the word – rejoiceth – appears 18 times
the word – rejoicing – appears 28 times
There is also a word in the Greek language for rejoice, sugchairó, but the word rejoice is used many many times. I have seen the word rejoice translated in a couple different ways. It is translated joy, be joyful, rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, rejoice greatly, rejoice greatly in the Lord, and to rejoice."

We can find a number of verses that focus on rejoicing in the Lord and finding joy in Him alone. Some of these are below-
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

We could go on and on, but these verses are enough to make it clear that we are to rejoice in the Lord for who He is. Pastor David Tomasso of Calvary Chapel Westside in New York, said it so clearly-"We can only Rejoice in the Lord because we serve a good God. We serve a God who loves us and who is there for us in the good times and in the bad. In times of difficulty and in times of joy. He’s with us on the mountaintop and he’s with us in the valleys. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Therefore we can rejoice always in the Lord. We’re not told to rejoice in circumstances, we’re told to rejoice in the Lord. There’s a difference. My circumstances don’t always allow me to want to be overjoyed, but I could always find joy in the Lord. Scripture says the joy of the Lord is my strength. Jesus gives me joy knowing He is with me and the confidence that He works all things together for the good. His goodness strengthens me to press on! That’s where my rejoicing comes from during those difficult times, during my hardships, when things look so bleak I can’t see the light. So remember we serve a covenant-keeping God who is forever committed to you and you can Rejoice in Him Always!"

Here are some of the reasons we rejoive in the Lord-
God Is Holy
God Is Good
God Is Just
God Is Impartial
God Is Infinite
God Is Patient
God Is Faithful
God Is Love
God Is Creative
God Is Forgiving
God Is Honest
God Is Knowable
God Is Welcoming
These and many more are the basis for us to rejoice in the Lord.

When we come to the New Testament it is the Lord Jesus we are to delight in. We are to be glad and joyful because of who He is. John Piper wrote, “delight yourself in the Lord” means delight yourself in seeing his infinite admirableness." We have people in all walks of life that we admire. They have qualities of beauty and character that we just have to admire, and we tell them so to their face in love and appreciation. Our joy in God is the same, and our joy in Jesus is of like nature. We love and rejoice in Jesus, not only for all He has done for us in time and eternity, but for who He is as a person. He is admirable on so many levels.

In Dr Carols ministry she lists 50 character traits of Jesus. Let me share a few of them to make clear how easy it is to rejoice in the Lord for who He is.

Loving – loving people well
Joyful – much deeper than happiness
Peaceful – living with peace even in difficult circumstances
Peacemaker – spreading calm by your presence
Courageous – moving forward on your mission in the face of opposition
Wise – synthesizing information to make good decisions
Merciful – giving others grace wherever possible
Kind – treating others with respect and goodness
Slow to speak – listening more than talking
Resilient – returning to your mission any time tough things try to move you off course.
If you want to read the other 40. go to https://www.drcarolministries.com/be-like-jesus-50-character-traits/

We are to rejoice in the Lord, and that means the full trinity, and so we need to look at the reasons to rejoice in the Holy Spirit.
Teaches Us All Things
Guides You Into Truth
Helps You Pray
Produces Godly Fruit in Your Life
Enables You to Walk In Your Calling
Empowers You with Strength
Gives Spiritual Gifts

All three persons of the Godhead are just that-PERSONS. They are to be loved and enjoyed for who the are. Deborah Ann Belka urges us to do what the Bible says we should be ever doing.

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,
be glad and shout out with joy.
For He promises to uplift you,
and your doubts He'll destroy.

For those who trust in the Lord,
are covered by His mercies.
All those who believe in Him,
shall conquer their adversities.

Rejoice all who love the Lord,
with delight offer Him your praise.
He will shield and protect you,
and your fears He will raise.

Stand up against the wicked one,
don't you believe in his lies.
All who affirm the work of the Lord,
will be blest with a heart that is wise.

Rejoice in His wonder and glory,
let His splendor embrace you.
Rejoice and be glad in the Lord,
and His love will encircle you too.

For those who rejoice in the Lord,
and give Him their praise each day.
Are the ones who always trust Him,
with His answers when they pray.

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,
again I say rejoice.
Always lift Him up in praise,
and let Him hear your voice.