KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT: JOY
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy…
Galatians 5:22 (NLT)
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NLT)
It was one of those seasons you really can't prepare for. My father had been sick for quite some time, so his passing wasn't a shock. We'd seen him struggle and decline for years, and in a way, his death was a relief—to him and to us. But even though we were sort of ready, the pain and grief were overwhelming.
What we weren't expecting, however, came very soon after he died: joy—joy in a way I don't have words to describe. My sister and I were headed home, a couple of hours away, and suddenly, we began laughing. It was the kind of laughing we had never experienced together, and definitely not during those final days with our dad. We began sharing stories of our childhood. We were flooded with memories.
All I can say is that it felt like the joy of the Holy Spirit. The burden and tension I'd been feeling were being replaced with a deep sense that everything was right in the world, even though it wasn't. Remembering that season has helped me see that joy is big enough to wrap its arms around both the good times and the bad. The joy of God helps us experience celebration and at the same time, is powerful enough to hold us up during times of pain and suffering. In the words of C.S. Lewis,
Into the void of silence,
into the empty space of nothing,
the joy of life is unfurled.
APPLICATION: Re-read today's Scriptures and underline a word or phrase that stands out. Write this down and remember it often.
PRAYER: God, thank You for joy. Thank You that joy goes deeper than all my worries and troubling life circumstances. I long to keep in step with the Holy Spirit today that I may experience and share with others the joy You've made freely available. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?