"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Philemon 7

Isn't that a wonderful verse?  I would love that to be said about me wouldn't you?  The love we show refreshes and gives joy and encouragement to others.  When we meet with fellow believers we should be a joy to each other.  Isn't it refreshing to be around joyful people?  Below are a few scriptures that I'd like to share.

Nehemiah 8:10b   "....the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Are you tired or depressed about something?  The joy of the Lord is your strength!  I have prayed this verse many, many times and God has been faithful to bring me out of depression.)

Psalm 16:11   "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."   Also in John 15:11 it says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."   How  wonderful to know that Jesus joys in us!  He has made my joy complete.  If I get in His presence, He will fill me with joy.  Praise God.

The Joy of restoration.  I have been restored to joy in my life numerous times and it always is such a wondrous thing to me.  God is so very faithful to us. 

Jeremiah 31:13
"Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."  

That is one of my all time favorite verses.   What a wonderful promise!  The Holy Spirit has comforted me and given me joy instead of sorrow and turned my mourning into gladness many times in the thirty five years since I've accept the Lord.  He is so faithful to do that!

Joy comes from inside us and we can draw upon it no matter what is happening outwardly.  Happiness has to do with outward circumstances. We as Christians have the fruit of the Spirit growing in us daily as we abide in Christ, remain in Him.  He has made our joy complete. 

This next verse is Psalms 43:3-4.

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight"

I feel joy in the presence of my God.  He loves me so much and wants me to have the best.  He is ready to answer my prayers and I have favor with Him.  What more can we ask?  We just need to enter into the presence of God daily for our needs to be met.

There are so many other verses about joy.  Paul called his brothers his "crown" and "joy" in Philippians 4:1.  When we gather together we should be a joy to each other. The joy in us should be so very evident that it overflows to others.  That is why it is so important not to be isolated or separated from the body of Christ. 

The last thing I want to say about joy is how are we different from the world if they can't see the joy we have as Christians?  They should be able to see us and say I want what she has.  We should be able to answer them when they say to us what is different about you? (I Peter 3:15) No, I'm not drinking wine (or other alcoholic drinks).   I have something else.   Let me tell you about it.

There is one thing that spoke to me as I was studying this week's lesson.  She said how boring and mediocre our lives would be if we were surrounded only by persons we felt comfortable with.  She challenged us to branch out and make friends and relationships with people of different backgrounds and economic persuasions, even denominations.   They will become your joy.  Who do you hang out with?