The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy
SECOND IN MY TEACHING SERIES ON THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
Joy is usually synonymous with happiness. But even in our daily conversations, we make the distinction that happiness and joy are two very separate things. If you consider someone as a joyful person, that doesn’t mean to say that they are happy all of the time. It means that there is joy that flows out of them, and one way it presents itself is in the form of happiness.
Joy is a choice
Rick Warren gave us this definition of joy: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation, regardless it’s nature.”
The two parts of his definition are “quiet confidence” and “determined choice.” We feel a sense of joy when we praise God and know that He is in control is a daily, moment-by-moment choice. When we rest in joy, we are truly able to acknowledge the one who is in control of everything.
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:22
This passage in John says how no one can take away our joy. It talks of joy like it is an actual object, something of eternal value and everlasting ownership. There are generally only two ways we can be without joy:
- Don’t choose to make joy a central element of our life in this messy world.
- Give our joy away to someone who dishonors it and tramples it under their feet.
I want that! I want the kind of joy that is rooted so deeply in my heart that nothing can cause it to waver. Joy is a choice. Let joy outpour from you as the confidence in God and His spirit fill you up.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
The presence of Christ within the heart of every Christ-follower gives us the capability to choose joy despite what life may set before us and whatever messages shame may attempt to speak into us. Joy has its roots in the recognition that meaning, worth, and value in our found only in Jesus, and not in our circumstances.
[Author’s Note: Parts of this post are excerpts from this website: https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-fruit-spirit-joy#:~:text=Rick%20Warren%20gave%20us%20this,praise%20God%20in%20every%20situation.%E2%80%9D]
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