Psalm 32: 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Are you joyful today? Do you Joy in the Lord regardless of circumstances? Do you fight to hold onto that joy by denouncing evil thoughts in your heart, by reminding yourself daily of what He has done for you, and by recognizing with determination to lay down your desires for counterfeit joys? Do you see Him as your ultimate joy and seek Him with all your heart?
Let me give you this thought from Jonathan Edwards as he said it so well. “The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean” wrote Jonathan Edwards. Paul the Apostle knew this and knew that he was to spread that same joy (even when he was a prisoner for the sake of spreading the gospel) as he wrote; Philippians 1: “21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.”
Let me end with this quote from Jonathan Edwards so that you might ponder on it and take it up as your moto.
“God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.”
― Jonathan Edwards
What is your passion today?