I have forgotten over time how beneficial it is to have joy. It brings great feelings in the morning and sustains through the day. It bring smiles to the faces of others. And it softens all of the adversity that becomes us as we have perspective. It also brings on a celebration of and for you.
“12For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
— Isaiah 55:12-13 (ESV)
I was so encouraged this morning in my reading and study of the word “joy”. Here I found the celebration that comes when I approach from a point of joy. I am the target of the celebration. As I go along, the singing and the clapping is for me. That which comes along is turned to good and the bad is overcome.
I have to bring joy each day. I have to be joyous at every turn. No matter the circumstances I may find myself in, they are only the physical and I have to turn to the spiritual joy and march on. I have to know that the physical circumstance is only temporary and the joy that I have from the Spirit of the LORD is eternal and that I will be celebrated for that joy.
What does your approach look like? Are you down due to your circumstances? What if you were to look to the joy of the LORD and reap the reward of the celebration meant for you thanks to that joy?
Trevor's Thoughts 