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?

The freshness of the morning brings a new opportunity for all. For the environment, for the animals, for business, and for the people. The morning is the start for something new and the chance of better than the day before.

“⁵For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.”

— Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

With a sleep, everything has the chance to change. I know that anything that happened the day before seems a little less the next day. Whether it is related to anger or sorrow. Whether hardship or pain. The next morning there is some relief. And, in the morning there is the joy that is available for the accepting.

Joy is from God as I have read, studied, and written over the past week or so. God is there in the morning and provides for us joy to tap into. I think it makes sense to tap into that joy in the morning to get the day started in the right direction. It is given freely, why not accept.

It is easy to continue with thinking of and dwelling on the day/night before and all that was there. Waking up and allowing the thoughts to continue in the brain and in the heart. It is just as easy to start new with joy. Waking to the new day and a new everything seems to be just as easy.

I struggle with starting new with joy when what was there the day/night before, is still there. I still have it to deal with and it has not somehow been resolved. I guess it is that I see others that create or have things happen behind them and they just seem to put it behind them. They seem to start anew with joy and positive actions while others spend their time and effort dealing with what was left behind and work through the difficulties. Meanwhile the one that left it behind moves on and seems to take no responsibility for their actions. How can that be although they seem to be just waking in the morning to joy and the next thing.

I am not about to move on. I will have those difficult days and I will have things that will not go away with the morning. But, I can wake with a new attitude and attack those items with a fresh approach and angle to get them done and not dwell on what was there the day before. I have to begin each day with joy that comes from God and know that He will be with me through it all and guide me to the resolution that is fitting with His plan.

Where are you each morning? Are you allowing the yesterday to get in the way of your joy with a fresh new opportunity? What if you where to just open your eyes each morning and start new and fresh with joy in your heart and come at the yesterday with renewed energy and approach?

It seems as though I keep writing to the fact that the LORD gives. That is no different this morning. The LORD continues to give and I forget that often. I am a man and I feel as though I am in control and that I bring things to myself and give to myself. The reality is that there is very little that I do for myself. I am provided for by the LORD. He gives more than just salvation.

“⁶For you make him most blessed forever;

you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”

— Psalm 21:6 (ESV)

There may not be much seen in the verse above as relates to all that the LORD gives, but notice the results of what He gives. There is being blessed “forever” and there is gladness. I have been wallowing in my own hardships and neglecting to remember that the LORD wants and provides nothing but the best for me.

In the first six verses of the passage, there is mention of “strength”, “heart’s desire”, “rich blessings”, as well as “splendor and majesty”. This is telling as to all that the LORD provides that go beyond joy. All of these are given from the LORD. They are provided for me and all who call on His name.

I want to be careful not to fall into the idea that somehow things are going to be great at all times when I have accepted all that the LORD provides. I am living proof that there will be times of difficulty and as I mentioned, I have been “wallowing in my own hardships” for some time and that has drawn me away from the LORD to some degree. I have taken to studying the word “joy” to remember and get back to Him. I have even taken some time away from the study of His word to somehow find my way back.

I have come back this morning to a LORD who never left me. He, in fact, provided for me this morning in giving that which I needed at this moment. I have to remember that all of life will not be great. I will continue to have the kind of hardship that only reliance in Him will overcome. I have to come to the LORD for the provision He has for me, “strength”, “heart’s desire”, “rich blessings”, “splendor and majesty” and of course, being blessed “forever” and gladness.

I have to stay with the LORD to receive. Although knowing I have to stay does not mean that I won’t wander off. Even when I do, the LORD will be right there with me with that which I need in the moment as He is always there to give joy and all else as a loving father should be.

What hardships are you going through? Are you looking for something outside of that which God will provide? What if you were to come to Him and allow Him to give you that which you need?

“⁶There are many who say, ‘Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!’

⁷You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

— Psalm 4:6-7 (ESV)

I wrote about joy coming with God and this morning I was trying to find the right words as I as thought about the above verses. I read something similar to joy coming with God, only it does not sit the same with me as it did earlier.

As I look this morning, I see that God gives joy, it does not just abound with Him. I receive joy from Him not just experience it in my relationship with Him.

When I write it, there is something that hits me just so. I am thankful to have those in my life that bring me happiness (Lori, Bryson, Aarron), but it is the joy that I receive from God that makes those in my life that much more important. I now can see them in the light that I want to work to bring them happiness. I want to bring them what God has given to me. I want to be the one that serves them to the point that they are able to experience the joy that is given by the LORD for themselves.

I have to be careful in the way I write and the message that I am bringing. I do not want anyone to think that it is I that is bringing joy, it is not. Notice the words I wrote above. I want to “bring them happiness” and “what God has given”. I am not in the business of bringing joy. I am but a man and can only bring you to the one, GOD, who can give you joy. I can only bring you to Him so that you have an opportunity to receive that joy He has to give.

Man cannot bring or provide joy. As I mentioned in my other writing about joy coming with God, “Yes, I can find monetary good fortune and satisfy worldly desires in other places, but those are fleeting and only provide in the moment.” Anything that man can provide is only for the moment and as soon as the moment is gone, so is the feeling had. That which God gives is eternal.

Where do you believe you are receiving joy? Are you really finding the lasting joy in your life in what you get from man? What if you accepted the joy that comes only from God and allowed Him to continue fill you with it in all?

This morning I am reading in Job. I read through the LORD’s answer to Job and have found all that God did/does. Oh man, are we full of the thoughts that we are in control only to read God’s Word and realize that indeed we are just here soaking up God’s work. I call out the below verses especially to indicate how everything started and our place in it all.

“⁶On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

— Job 38:6-7 (ESV)

These two verses point out who created it all. It was the LORD. He laid the cornerstone of this world and see there in verse seven that “all the sons of God shouted for joy”. It was not just a small event in time, that if removed, would have not lasting consequence. It was the building of this world that I am living in today. I had no part in it and only get to reap the benefit of being here. I have to remember to give my joy to the LORD.

I have to remember that the joy that comes from and that I give to God is lasting for always and not something that will pass as the day does. I have to remember all that comes from God is lasting.

“¹³Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” — John 4:13-14 (ESV)

All that we get from this world and those that are physically inhabiting is something that does not last. That which comes from the LORD will last forever. I choose to take advantage of that that lasts forever, as it will certainly outlast me. I will offer my joy to the one that provides for that forever and that is the LORD. He has done all things and provided for all things and for that I will give Him my joy.

What are you experiencing that you are offering joy? Are you looking to those fleeting moments and realizing that those moments have past and the momentary joy is now missing? What if you were to offer joy to the ONE who provides for the lasting, forever joy instead?

Why is it that when we look at things, we constantly look to the negative prior to reviewing the positive. We tend to remove the joy from things in favor of that which needs to be worked on. As I train people with regard to their role and jobs, I take time to coach and offer feedback on the performance of the individual. My first question to them is “How do you believe that went?” To which virtually everyone starts with that to which they can improve upon. After the answer to the first question in the coaching, I then ask them “What do you believe you did well?” and again they launch into that to which they can improve.

I have to remember the Joy of the LORD and focus on that joy. I have to remember that which is good and set aside that which is not. I have to make sure that I am moving and reviewing all that is in the LORD, not that which is not. Even the Word of the LORD is good although when we look at it we tend to turn it to that which we can improve. I have to remember that those areas of improvement are for good and to ensure that I am headed down the right path. I have to look upon the Word of the LORD as all good and joyous.

“⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” — Nehemiah 8:9-10 (ESV)

In the above verses, I see the people hearing the words of the Law of God and seeing all the places that they have failed. They are beginning to weep and mourn the fact that they are not holding to the law and that they have so much to improve. Nehemiah and the others made it clear to the people that they should not be dwelling on the failures and instead, look to the words of the Law of God as inspiring and joyous. They should be looking at how things are good and they should be celebrating as opposed to mourning.

Too often, we look to what is negative and simply miss out on all of that which is positive and joyous. I have to remember the joy that is in everything. My life may not be the way I had hoped in the sense of monetary gain and by worldly standards, but I have been give the gift of salvation and the life God would have for me and for that I have to be filled with joy. I have to remember to focus on that which is great in my life, the LORD, Lori, Bryson, Aarron, and all that comes with each of them.

What do you have in your life that you are focused on? Are you constantly looking to how you can improve? What if you focused on that which is joyous instead, and lived the life that God has in store for you?