In Nehemiah 8:10 it says that: "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (KJV). So, how do we get this joy? Do we plaster a big smile on our faces and pretend? No! Gal 5:22 tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit; so, as Christians, with the Holy Spirit on the inside of us, joy should naturally develop.

However, in order for this fruit to develop we need to be abiding in the vine (spending time with Jesus) as we learn in John 15. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as an apple will naturally develop on an apple tree so joy will naturally develop as we keep abiding in Christ.

The Bible also says that we should: "rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil 4:4). As you know we don't always "feel" like being joyful, but the kind of joy we are talking about doesn't depend on the circumstances we are in but it is an inner joy in the Lord that we have regardless of our circumstances. We choose to rejoice because the "greater one" lives in us (1 John 4:4) and he has the answer to all our problems.

Spend time with Jesus, in his word, in prayer and in fellowship with him and watch your joy grow.

  A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com