READ: PSALMS 16:9-11; 94:17-19; JOHN 15:1-12

Rejoice, delight, jubilation, glee, ebullience, exhilaration…all of these words mean to have joy. Not only are there lists of words about joy, but there are also hundreds of Bible verses about joy. Yet, so often we overlook or even avoid the joy of the Lord. Instead, we should be asking, how can we receive this joy? How can we live in the blessing of joy?

In Romans 5, Paul tells us the reason for our joy. He says, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (verse 10-11, emphasis added).

As Christians, we have received freedom in Jesus Christ. By dying on the cross and rising from the grave, He set us free from sin! If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has set us free, why shouldn’t we praise Him? Why should we isolate ourselves from freedom and joy?

Psalm 47:1 says, “Shout to God with joyful praise!” It literally says to shout with joy! The Lord has given us this gift: to live in never-ending joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

If you don’t know how to receive joy, I have one word to help you receive the fullness of God’s beautiful gift of joy: prayer. In Romans 12:12, Paul says, “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Pray for joy; pray that the Lord will overwhelm you with His joy! The Lord Jesus is faithful to guide us into His gift of joy, help us live in His joy, and teach us that even in the valley, He will be there to overwhelm us with the joy of His loving presence. • Ana Johnson

• God Himself is joyful, and He invites us to share in His joy (Matthew 25:23; Hebrews 12:1-2). In fact, joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, which means the Holy Spirit produces it in us (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, as Christians we can always choose to rejoice, remembering the Lord’s goodness even in the hardest circumstances (Acts 16:22-25; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; Philippians 4:4-13). Have you ever experienced the joy of the Lord? What was it like?

“I [Jesus] have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (NLT)