"Managing Your Emotions" Week Two ~~~ JOY

Let me begin by telling you how it does something so good to my heart when I spend Thursday evenings with all of you. Looking out at your faces as you intently study the Word of God is awesome!! I get to observe nods of agreement, a few smiles, and one or two pair of eyes misty with tears. You are so precious...each and every one of you...and besides being an outright miracle, I am so honored that God would use ME to serve you!

So let's jump into our review of last night's material on JOY.

Philippians is often referred to as the book of joy. We focused on Philippians 4: 4, 11-13. Paul said that he had learned to be content in WHATEVER circumstances he was in. He had learned the SECRET of being content in any and every situation. We determined that because he knew the secret, he could experience the joy.

The source of overcoming, in-spite-of-my-circumstances joy is found in Psalm 16:11.
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand". The KJV says it this way, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy". The kind of joy that we're looking for, the kind of joy that brings victorious living "in the midst of", is found in the presence of the Lord. When we "panah", we turn, face, and look at God and there is fullness of joy. We choose to look at God, not our trouble. Not our circumstances. Not what the "experts" say, or the "woe is me" folk's opinions. We can choose to purposefully place ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and apprehend us some joy!

Moses, the man of God knew the secret. In Psalm 90: 14, he wrote these words:
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days".

David, the man after God's own heart knew the secret. Read the words that he wrote in Psalm 63: 3-7. Keep in mind that David wrote those words when he was right in the middle of a literal desert, running for his life from his son Absalom, and living in the wilderness.

Moses practiced the principle in the morning. David practiced it at night. From morning until night, and every moment in between, a life lived in the presence of the Lord is a joy-filled life. That's the secret! And we can choose to live like the rest of the world, or like a citizen of the Kingdom of God, characterized by "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost". (Romans 14:17)

Paul gives us a practical way to keep our joy, to avoid anxiety, and to be content in Philippians 4:8. According to those verses, what are we to stay our minds on?

Read the words of Psalm 126: 5-6. We determined that when we're commanded to sow in tears, we're being told to keep on doing the right thing even when the right thing isn't happening to us. To keep on doing the work of the Lord. To keep on advancing His kingdom. To keep on being a witness for the display of His splendor, even when we don't feel like it. Even if we're crying our eyes out. And if we do, we will reap, and return with songs of joy. Look at Galatians 6:9, for the New Testament equivalent of this principle.

When we're "going through" is the exact time to go out and sow. It's the exact time to go help someone else who's "going through". You will be a blessing to someone else and it will get your own mind off of your problems and yourself. Jesus illustrated this principle in Luke 6: 37-38. Measure out some blessing for someone else who's going through a rough time. What a joy it can be to be a blessing to another person. Sure beats wallowing in your misery! At least to me it does!

REMEMBER: The promises that God makes are not for happiness. Happiness and joy are two entirely different things. The pursuit of happiness is a vain and useless pursuit. God never promised us happiness. But He has promised us joy. (John 16: 20-24)

Happiness comes from seeing and feeling. Joy comes from what you know. Joy is not a feeling. Happiness comes and goes based on our circumstances. Joy is lasting and abiding. Happiness is fleeting, and comes from outward circumstances, producing a feeling within us. Joy comes from knowing truth.

James 1: 2-4: It is pure joy to KNOW that our trials, and the testing of our faith are producing something. "Count it all joy KNOWING". Your trial, your hard place, is developing something in you. It has a purpose. Because of that "knowing", you can experience joy right in the middle of the darn thing! You can count it all JOY! Work through those verses in James again. Ask yourself, "Knowing what"? What do I know my trial will produce? What does the word say? (Hint: James tells you in verse 4)

In this study, we're learning to find out what the Word says will come from our trials, and then attach ourselves to that truth. We attach ourselves to what we KNOW, not what we FEEL. And right there, right there sister, will be the secret to being filled with joy right in the midst of your situation. Attach your faith to the facts of the Word of God and your caboose will carry joy as its cargo!

Habukkak 3: 17-19 showed us that it is all a choice. Review those verses. Habukkak described a desperate situation. But he said that he would "rejoice in the Lord". He had to make a choice, and so do we.

We can find JOY by remembering God's faithfulness in the past and by encouraging our self in the Lord. Review what David did in a terrible situation in 1 Samuel 30:1-6. David remembered his "former joy". For an example of this we studied Psalm 42:1-5. The Psalmist recalled God's faithfulness to him in the past. I'll bet you have one or two things that you can personally recall! And if God did it then, He'll do it again. Remember Hebrews 13:8. Here's the Message translation of some of those verses in Psalm 42: "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God--soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you". The secret to joy is to take our focus off of our circumstances, and ourselves, and to put it firmly upon God and His goodness. When we look at what He's done in the past, we're better able to trust Him for the future, because we come to believe that He is faithful and good.

We spent a lot of time in Psalm 33. Why don't you review that whole Psalm right now? We've already talked about focusing on God's work in the past. We now move to finding joy by looking for His plan in our present. We need to be on the look-out for God's plan in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. Jesus practiced this principle. Read Hebrews 12:2. God has a good plan for your life. His plans stand firm forever. God is good. He never has evil plans. Quite the contrary. Review that old familiar verse in Jeremiah 29: 11. Know and believe that truth girlfriend, and joy will well up on the inside of you.

Joy can also be found in God's watchfulness in our lives. See Psalm 33: 13-15. God sees you. He cares for you. He knows all your concerns. He's never too busy for you. Review Psalm 18:35 and Psalm 113:5-6. God is not "above it all", but He is concerned with you and with what concerns you.

Remember to write down the first 10 things that come to your mind when you think about God. Now compare them to all of God's qualities referenced in Psalm 33. How does your list compare? Is your view accurate? Or is it tainted by circumstances or experiences with earthly fathers or other authority figures?

Last, you can find joy by anticipating God's mighty power for your future. Again, Psalm 33: 18,22 talk about God's unfailing love (hesed) for you. His covenant love for you. God will do every single thing that He's promised to do for you and He has the power to do it! He wants you to know that. Read Isaiah 50: 2-3 and Isaiah 54: 16-17. Your God is the God who stands up and the trees and mountains bow! He speaks and fierce oceans still. By just a rebuke, by just a word, He dries up the sea and turns rivers into deserts! Do you think you can trust His power in your situation? I say Yes!!!

What can all this knowledge, what can all this "knowing" mean to your personal life? What can it mean for your future? Everything! Find joy in your relationship with God. Unlike joy that is based on circumstances, joy found in God lasts forever. By remembering God's faithfulness and goodness from the past, looking for His plan and watchfulness in the present, and anticipating His power for your future, lasting joy can be found. Remember that Paul said we could find joy in whatever circumstance we're in? In every situation we can be assured that God is good and working on our behalf.

I pray today that God will restore to you the joy of His salvation. I pray that when you ask in His name you would receive a joy that no one can ever take away. Jesus promised that He would give you joy and that your joy would be complete. Receive the complete joy of Christ. The joy that He died to give you. Praise Him right now for the victory over your situation. Praise Him for finding His joy. You are a joyful woman. You are a strong woman because the joy of the Lord is your strength! God loves you with an unfailing, everlasting love. He is your Helper. He has been faithful to you in the past. He stoops down and cares about your present. He is so powerful and will do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever ask or think concerning your future. Sing for Joy, sweet sister and be glad all your days!

Looking forward to learning more of His life-giving Word with you next Thursday.

Love...Donna