Let Jesus show you and make known to you the way of life… allow Him to teach you how to live! As we submit to Jesus, He MAKES US full of joy in His presence. The way to live the New Covenant, kingdom life, is to live in joy… in other words, living in joy is the key to New Covenant, kingdom living under the Lordship of Jesus!
I love how the bible says, “You MAKE ME full of joy!” – Joy is part of the fruit of agape love, and God is agape love… Christ in us MAKES US full of agape love and FULL OF joy!
The way of Christ is the way of JOY! Joy is holy, joy is anointed, joy imparts strength and joy protects you from every work of the devil. Whatever you do, do not lose you joy! Whatever you do, maintain your joy in believing!
If your joy leaves… stop everything! – Cancel everything… get alone with the Lord… get into His presence, and then get your joy back! Put it on by faith… receive it by faith! One of the ways to receive joy by faith is to ‘rejoice’ by faith – the word rejoice is two words put together… ‘re’, or ‘rehearse’ and ‘joy’ – to rejoice is to ‘rehearse joy’ – rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, rejoice!
Paul was in prison and He had to maintain his joy in believing if he was going to remain victorious… the book of Philippians is full of nuggets on how to stay strong in the midst of challenges - in Philippians 4:4 he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”… The Passion Translation says, “Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!”
Rehearsing joy in the midst of trials is key! Just like any rehearsal, you practice something over and over until it comes natural, or in the case of JOY, till is comes ‘supernaturally’. You put on a smile ‘by faith’… you do not ‘fake it’… you ‘faith it’ – then you ‘put on’ laughter, by faith…you do not ‘fake it’, you ‘faith it’! You say, “I rejoice in the Lord at ALL times – I put on joy right now by faith”… then, rehearse it, or practice it by faith!
See yourself in victory, see those bills paid, see all things working together for your good, with the eye of faith, see yourself giving a testimony of victory, and see yourself dancing… then rejoice! Rehearse that joy until it starts bubbling up out of your innermost being and flowing like a river!
Do not go a day without joy, maintain your joy in believing… allow Jesus to MAKE YOU full of joy and to teach you how to live in joy, no matter the circumstances!
Blessings on you, Nick
