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The Fruit of The Spirit is Joy! " 'These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full' " (John 15:11, NKJV)
Joy and happiness are not necessarily the same thing. Happiness is the result of favorable circumstances; joy, in contrast, is the result of being--as in being connected to Jesus, the True Vine. In Psalm 4:7, joy and happiness are contrasted: "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine" (NLT). The "greater joy" comes from knowing and trusting God; happiness is a result of pleasant circumstances, such as an abundant harvest. Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God; happiness is as unpredictable as a harvest. Inward joy defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up. Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary. Joy is a delight in life that runs deeper than pain or pleasure. This type of joy stems from an awareness of God's presence in one's life, allowing us to rise above circumstances and focus on the goodness and love of God. At the core of Christian joy is the fact that God has acted and is acting to save those who trust in Him.
Many believers allow themselves to be victimized by their circumstances and consequently vacillate between a spiritual high and low. For them, to rejoice seems unreasonable, even impossible. That is why the command is to rejoice "in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4). We can't always rejoice in our circumstances or in other people, because both of these elements may be negative. However, we can rejoice in the Lord, because He is always good, and He never changes. Our spiritual stability is directly related to our knowledge of and commitment to God. Knowing Him helps us live above our circumstances and provides stability. That's why the psalms were written in poetic form and meter and set to music
Joy and happiness are not necessarily the same thing. Happiness is the result of favorable circumstances; joy, in contrast, is the result of being--as in being connected to Jesus, the True Vine. In Psalm 4:7, joy and happiness are contrasted: "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine" (NLT). The "greater joy" comes from knowing and trusting God; happiness is a result of pleasant circumstances, such as an abundant harvest. Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God; happiness is as unpredictable as a harvest. Inward joy defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up. Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary. Joy is a delight in life that runs deeper than pain or pleasure. This type of joy stems from an awareness of God's presence in one's life, allowing us to rise above circumstances and focus on the goodness and love of God. At the core of Christian joy is the fact that God has acted and is acting to save those who trust in Him.
Many believers allow themselves to be victimized by their circumstances and consequently vacillate between a spiritual high and low. For them, to rejoice seems unreasonable, even impossible. That is why the command is to rejoice "in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4). We can't always rejoice in our circumstances or in other people, because both of these elements may be negative. However, we can rejoice in the Lord, because He is always good, and He never changes. Our spiritual stability is directly related to our knowledge of and commitment to God. Knowing Him helps us live above our circumstances and provides stability. That's why the psalms were written in poetic form and meter and set to music
Betty