More and more I am convinced that genuine Christian joy is dependent upon an increasing knowledge and confidence in Him. Anything less is a man-centered imitation.
"Joy is a condition that is experienced, but it is more than a feeling; it is, primarily, a state of mind." ~ J.I. Packer
"It is the experience of well being, it is the experience of well being that springs from the deep down confidence that God is in perfect control of everything for my good and His glory...not because of the circumstances but because of the deep down confidence that God is in charge of everything and that it is all moving for my good and His glory." ~ John MacArthur
Sunday's Hymn: Of the Father's Love Begotten
10 hours ago
7 comments:
I totally agree.
So true. I think of it also as a matter of perspective. There's no way that I can be joyful in the daily circumstances of life (that I so often do not understand!) without looking forward to the end result of everything and turning over my lack of understanding of life's daily struggles to the One who holds the future in the palm of His almighty hand.
jen: You are oh so right!
Joy is something I used to struggle with until I understood and recognized God's sovereignty. Anything man-centered (read: me-centered) will always lead to disappointment. But isn't that the way it is supposed to be? We will NEVER be satisfied by what we see or have here, and to look to it for satisfaction is foolhardy and wrong. And to continue to place our hope in it is to embrace emptiness and joylessness.
Thanks for this. I'm currently working through a lifetime (my own 36 years) of wrong understanding about what joy is and what it is not. This is good.
Hi Connie,
Don't know if you like to listen to(or watch) sermons, but I'd like to direct you to a couple of really good ones. Dave Johnson, pastor of Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, MN, is someone we've been listening to for a number of years now. I just recently listened to two recent sermons on joy. He's been going through the fruit of the Spirit for sometime now.
Anyway go to:
Open Door then click on "recent messages."
The messages are Suffering & Joy (1/27) and Suffering For Someone's Else's Joy (2/3)
I have bought the lie at times of joy coming from other sources...good sources, but not the One in whom I should treasure above all. But you are right about true joy...it is resting in God and His sovereignty!
Thanks for this post.
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