“With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!” – Isaiah 12:3 (NLT)
Many years ago, I made a decision to always be grateful to the Lord and live happily every day. I discovered that no one was sent to make me happy. Jesus already accomplished everything necessary for my joy. The Bible says He gave us “…joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1st Peter 1:8 – NKJV). That joy is in our spirits.
When you received salvation, it came with this joy, and Isaiah 12:3 tells us, “With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation.” Joy comes from your spirit, and happiness is one of its fruits. If you’re joyful in your spirit, happiness naturally follows. Happiness is a state of mind, but joy produces so much more. The fruits of joy include laughter, celebration, and dancing. Even giving is one of the fruits of joy.
Joyful people give freely. Have you ever observed that when someone asks you for something at a moment when you’re full of joy, it’s almost always a “yes?” You can hardly say no because giving flows naturally from joy. And guess what? When you’re full of joy in the presence of the Lord, He grants the desires of your heart as the Bible says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” (Psalm 37:4 – NLT).
Your joy releases blessings. When your heart is filled with joy and delight for the things of God, your desires are fulfilled. It’s one of the reasons your personal praise and worship of the Lord is so important. Those are moments of spiritual ecstasy, where your heart is knit with His Spirit in joyful effusions of gratitude, in celebration of His great glory, goodness, and awesome majesty.
So, learn to rejoice evermore in the spirit, in the presence of God. When you truly worship and express your joy before Him, it brings unimaginable blessings and unlocks in and around you a divine atmosphere for the miraculous.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I rejoice, knowing that as I delight in You, every desire of my heart is granted. I am full of joy, serving You in Spirit and in truth, basking in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel, walking in prosperity, health, and victory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Psalm 16:11; Nehemiah 8:10
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 123; Hebrews 10:19-39; Ezekiel 20:45-49; Ezekiel 21; Ezekiel 22:1-22