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?

This morning as I read and study more of the word “joy” I am brought to Isaiah 51 and find reference to Zion. I will admit that I have always been confused as to Zion and this morning I dug in a bit more for clarity.

Zion is more than just a place on a map. Yes, there is a physical place of Mount Zion, but Zion is considerably more that just that physical location. It is the Kingdom of God, and therefore will be all encompassing as far as spiritually. We may think in the physical, yet the Kingdom of God is spiritual and can be found any and everywhere. I do not have to go to a place to be with God, I can do so from wherever I might be.

As for joy and Zion.

“³For the LORD comforts Zion;

he comforts all her waste places

and makes her wilderness like Eden,

her desert like the garden of the LORD;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the voice of song.”

— Isaiah 51:3 (ESV)

I can find joy in the Kingdom of God. I can find joy in Zion. When I am seeking Zion, I am pursuing righteousness and that is when I will find that joy and gladness.

“¹Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

you who seek the LORD:

look to the rock from which you were hewn,

and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

— Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

The joy found in Zion is only for those who are pursuing her, those who are seeking the LORD. That joy IS the joy of the LORD. I have to have hope that I will find, act to seek, and then I will receive at the appointed time.

Joy is found in Zion and is for those pursuing her. I will be one pursuing.

Where are you looking to find joy? Are you looking in the places outside of Zion? What if you were to seek Zion and pursue her knowing that when you seek the LORD, you will find the joy of the LORD there?

I have heard the saying that you will reap what you sow. And Paul says the same in his letter to the Galatians.

“⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” — Galatians 6:8 (ESV)

Notice in the verse that the reaping and sowing is not just for the positive winnings in life, but for that which is not Godly as well. When taking on actions, more of the same will be received.

Where it is not referenced in my bible. I see the correlation or have the idea that Paul may have pulled such a concept from Isaiah 35 as he is speaking to returning to the LORD.

“¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

— Isaiah 35:10 (ESV)

What I see here in this verse is that when I am in the presence of the LORD as one of His, I will bring with me joy. And in exchange for the joy I will receive more of the same. This gives me hope. And as I have discussed that hope will lead to action, which will lead to joy.

I have to remember that the LORD has provided the way for me to reach His joy and that way is filled with joy. I have to just approach being filled with joy and I will receive more of the same.

I am to live my life filled with joy, and that joy begins here, as I am sitting and studying the word of God early in the morning, undisturbed and without distraction. I have to remember that to truly gain knowledge I have to continue that deep study and the key is to be without distraction to the focus on the LORD will be full. In my study I will have the opportunity to celebrate all that the LORD has provided and will gain from that provision just what He has for me and that comfort, protection, guidance, and joy in the attaining all of the former.

I must work to be joyous at all that the LORD has provided and will provide. That joy will generate being content in all. I will be able to arrive at the LORD and take on the work He has for me with that joy and know that when I arrive in His presence, I will receive more of the same.

For you, what approach are you having in life? Are you simply working to survive? What if you approached all with joy, knowing that when you arrive in the presence of the LORD, you will receive even more of the same?

I have written on the ideas of focusing on joy and having joy in the morning, this morning I read in Proverbs 12 and found the reminder to plan for joy.

“²⁰Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.”

— Proverbs 12:20 (ESV)

I have the belief that I should have plans on top of plans and contingencies on top of contingencies, why then is having a plan for joy such a hard thing for me to embrace. I have to be better at planning for the joy of the LORD and not just “hoping” for it to be there (remembering that hope leads to action which leads to joy). I have to look at planning and the work of the LORD to bring the joy of the LORD.

Those that do evil, plan for that evil. The evil is created and acted on. I should do the same with joy. I have to create the opportunities to have and act bring about joy. I have to look to the chance to have joy, first and foremost, for me and then when I have joy, I will be able to spread that joy to others in the world. But, I have to plan for it so that I have direction and meaning and not just spontaneity.

Coaches put together game plans. Leaders put together business plans. Pastors put together sermon plans. Philanthropists put together service plans. I should be putting together joy plans. I have to wake up in the morning and focus on joy, but not just the joy for me but in the plan for the joy of the LORD to be had by all.

All of this starts with knowing the word of the LORD and understanding our purpose. I know that my mission in life is to “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s Love” and that as I am reminded, starts with planning for it to happen. I have to plan for the growth and learning. I have to plan to get the message to others. I have to plan for the LORD to shine through me. I have to plan to bring joy to the world.

How are you going about your day? Are you just hoping that it will happen in a positive way? What if you planned for the day and more importantly planned for the joy of the LORD in your life so that you are able to bring that joy to the world?

Hope is not a plan. Hope is a guide to action. Action is the means to joy.

That seems like a long approach to the end result, why am I not just able to walk into joy without all the extra like hope and then action.

“²⁸The hope of the righteous brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”

— Proverbs 10:28 (ESV)

It is the second part of the above verse that I have to remember when I begin to think of getting to the end without the work. When I begin to expect things to happen quickly or without any work or other action, I will find myself in the mindset of the wicked. Things that are worth having all take work and that work is action and not just thinking about it. Hope is not a plan.

Napoleon Hill wrote the book, “Think and Grow Rich”. Without reading the book, one might think that all you have to do is think about something and you will bring it into existence. Well to some degree that may be true, because everything that done that is worth something has to be thought about first, before action is taken. There has to be a commitment to the thing fully and wholly.

I can think of what I would like to happen, hope, yet that does not make the thing happen. I can think about getting a new car, but at some point I have to take action to get the car. I cannot just think it into existence. Hope works the same. I can have all of the hope available, yet without action, it is only a mental exercise. I have to use that hope to guide me into taking action and working toward the accomplishment just to the end. It is action that comes from the direction of the hope that leads to the end result.

I have the light of the LORD and the truth of the LORD that provides for and keeps me on the path to joy. It is the hope of reaching the joy of the LORD that gets me on the path in the first place. Without hope, I have no direction to even travel. I will simply wander around in the dark searching. I have to use the hope of the LORD to get me to the path. I then have to take action and move along the path remembering the hope that got me here and using the light of the LORD to see where to continue my journey. I will use the truth of the LORD to keep me on the path as I move toward the joy of the LORD. But all of that begins with the hope of the LORD and using that hope to lead to action as I seek the joy of the LORD.

What are your expectations as regards joy of the LORD? Are you hoping for the joy of the LORD and not working to make it happen? What if you were to have hope that would guide your actions to reach the joy of the LORD?

In this world I am under attack. I am lead off the path of light and truth away from the LORD and into the darkness.

“¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted;…

¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me,”

— Psalm 119:107a & 110a (ESV)

There are a lot of things in this world that are against me, although I will not know it really until I give way to the deception and stray from the path the LORD has for me in to His joy. I am reminded of the phrase, “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. I am not sure who originated that phrase, but it is true. As I look out off the path of the joy of the LORD, I see those out there that seem to be living the life of great things and it is natural as a human to want to experience those things. And then I get there. I experience that fun and excitement, for the moment, only to realize that the moment fades quickly and the fun with it, where I find myself wandering further away as I continue to look for the next thing. Don’t get me wrong, fun and excitement are nice to experience, but the path of the joy of the LORD is where I have to experience those.

All of that is the attack of the evil one. I am, as noted in the verses above, afflicted and the evil one is lying in wait for me. It is all just a distraction from that which is true joy, the life according to the will of the LORD. The LORD is forever. He is the “lamp to my feet and a light to my path”– see below.

“¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

¹¹¹Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.”

— Psalm 119:105 & 111-112 (ESV)

It is important that I embrace the joy of the LORD on the path that He has provided for me. I may see all of that fun and excitement that others are experiencing and feel compelled to join in, but I must take pause. Those may be folks on their path with the LORD and they are experiencing the joy of the LORD that He has provided for them, yet it is for them and not for me. I may wander over and in the moment experience the fun and excitement, but I will then find myself looking to another for more fun and excitement. I may even look back at the path I came from and see a great amount of fun and excitement there and wonder why I even left my path in the first place as it seems so wonderful now that I am looking back.

I have to be content with the path that the LORD has provided for me. I will be afflicted and attacked and the evil one will have a trap waiting for me constantly. I have to know it and do what I can to stay on the path. The joy of the LORD will give me more that any moment of fun and excitement, and that is where I should spend my time.

What fun and excitement are you experiencing? Are you looking for that off the path of the joy of the LORD? Remember the evil one is coming for you, what if you looked to the LORD and the path He has for you for joy in your life instead?

Joy: a source or cause of delight – Merriam-Webster Online

I have written the above definition before. I see here that the source of delight is joy. I need some delight and therefore need some joy. Where does it come from, well the LORD for sure as I have studied over the past few weeks. And this morning is no different in my learning and reminders. I am reading in Psalm still, this morning in Psalm 92.

“⁵How great are your works, O LORD!

Your thoughts are very deep!

⁴For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

— Psalm 92:5 & 4 9 (ESV)

I have the reason to sing for joy and that reason is the works of the LORD, both in my life and in the world as a whole. He is forever and His joy/delight will never fade, unlike the reliance on the world. Those that are looking for joy in another place may find it for the short time and it may look as though they have won the prize. The reality is that the prize, where it may look like a good one, will soon fade.

“⁶The stupid man cannot know;

the fool cannot understand this:

⁷that though the wicked sprout like grass

and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction forever;

⁸but you, O LORD, are on high forever.”

— Psalm 92:6-8 (ESV)

My prize, which is the joy of the LORD will last forever as it is based on His works and as noted earlier, his works are great. I have to remember to keep my looking at Him and seeking His face and the joy that comes from Him. I have to be all in with the LORD and not drift off the path He has provided.

What joy do you have in your life? Are you one that finds the temporary prize and then sees it fade quickly? What if you were to seek the joy of the LORD and then use that as your reason to sing?

Joy comes from the LORD as I have studied and written about over the past couple weeks. It has been clear to me that joy comes from and is attributed to the LORD and that is noted in multiple passages in His word. This morning I found a different take and perspective about joy. That take is that I am to give joy back to the LORD for all that He has done in my life and will do in my life to come.

“³Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

⁴All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name.’”

— Psalm 66:3-4 (ESV)

I see here that the LORD has done great things in this world for me and the world as a whole. He has provided and protected and comforted in our/my time of need and for that I am to be grateful and shout to Him my gratitude. I am to recognize His great gifts and give back to Him joy that He has given to me.

“¹Shout for joy to God, all the earth;

²sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!”

— Psalm 66:1-2 (ESV)

I am to praise the LORD for all that He is and all He has provided and all that He has done for me and the world. He has done so many great things for me that I have to be forthcoming with giving Him the credit for it all. I have to acknowledge those deeds and thank Him for them and ensure that He can hear me.

I am also the promoter and mouthpiece here in this world for the LORD. I have to be vocal with all that He has done and will do for me and for the world as a whole. This world is not hearing the whispers of the LORD and it is up to me to shout His praise and make known the joy that He has provided for me so that others may hear and experience the joy of the LORD in their lives.

I receive my joy from the LORD and I have a responsibility to give it back and ensure that everyone knows where my joy comes from. I have to vocal and not keep it to myself. I have to share the joy I receive from the LORD, giving back to Him and making sure that others know of the deeds that the LORD has accomplished in my life and does and will accomplish in their lives when they simply accept Him and the joy He has to give.

What are you doing with the joy that has been given to you? Are you looking to keep it to yourself? What if you gave it back to the LORD and made sure that others can hear and see it in you so that they would have the opportunity to experience for themselves?

I am going to wander off the path provided by God, that is a fact. I am human and fall victim to sin, as I am a sinner. The LORD provides the path which is solid and visible thanks to His light and has guardrails thanks to His truth. But yet, I will somehow still find a way to fall away from the path.

The good thing is that even when I do fall off the path, there is always a way back and that is through the seeking of joy that only God can provide. You see the light of the LORD will be there and I will be able to see it and make my way back. I may have to navigate through some unwanted adversity and climb the guardrail of truth, but I can find my way back.

“⁸Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

— Psalm 51:8 & 12 (ESV)

The joy of the LORD will be there always and it is up to be to listen and hear. And then I have to make my way to the joy from the darkness and allow God to restore me to the path He has provided for me. Notice in verse eight above that I have to allow my brokenness to be swept away and be healed. And in verse 12, I have to allow the LORD to restore me. It is not something that I can do on my own. I need the help and guidance of the LORD to be restored. I need His light and truth to get back to the path that He has provided. I need Him to find the joy that only He can provide.

It is easy for me to sit and wonder what would/could be and not do anything about it. But in order to see real results of and to the joy that God provides, I have to act and be restored. Only the LORD can restore me to the joy that he provides. The path to that joy is bright with the light of His grace and protected by the truth in His word. Reaching the joy of the LORD requires that I accept His grace and study His word to take advantage of His light and truth in my life.

Where are you in relation to the path to joy provided by God? Are you off the path trying to find your way back? What if you worked to accept the light of His grace and be protected by the truth in His word as you make your way back to the path that leads to His joy?

I am always looking for the map or directions as I proceed. In fact, each day I pray for guidance as I move through that day in into the next. I know that I cannot make it without a path to travel, otherwise I would be wandering aimlessly looking for something that I am not sure what is or where it might be found.

I am looking for joy and it is found on the path as I move toward God. That path, even though it is there for me to walk along, I still need to know exactly where to step in order that I will have shore footing and solid ground. That path is provided by God and His light and truth.

“³Send out your light and your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling!”

— Psalm 43:3 (ESV)

Notice in the words of the singer from Psalm, the path is provided and the guardrails to keep on the path are the light and truth of God. He gives the path for us to follow as we work toward the reward, and He also provides the view of the firm path and guardrails to keep us on the path. Our focus on the path will ensure that we are able to stay on it.

As I write, I keep thinking of the path that God has provided for us and I see that when I keep my eyes on the path and my heart headed in that direction, it is difficult to wander off of that path. I have the light of the LORD to allow me to see the firmness of the path, and I have the truth of the LORD to keep me on that path. With my focus there, I will have to work at getting off the path, or be distracted and purposely leave the path in pursuit of something other than that which is provided by God. When having a narrow focus on God, I will find Him just as with any other narrow focus.

The path provided by God leads to joy, as noted in verse four below.

“⁴Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.”

— Psalm 43:4 (ESV)

It is about what are we seeking and that will lead us to find it. I am seeking joy in my life and that is the path that is provided by God. He gives me His light to see the path and step as I go, and He gives me His truth to ensure that I am able to stay on the path. When we are seeking something other than joy, we are distracted by those things and that leads us off the path. We actively turn away from the light and the truth and hop the guardrail where things are not secured by the LORD.

What are you seeking in your life? Are you on the path to joy provided by the LORD? What if you were to focus on the lighted path with the guardrails from the LORD as you seek joy that only He can provide?