Maintain Joy In Your Heart Always

Joy is another virtue that attracts the presence of God. In Heb 13:5, the bible says "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. I once mentioned that joy is a state of contentment derived from the promises of God. Your expression of joy is a retainership fee to God. It keeps God with you. The bible tells us that there's fullness of joy in God's presence. 

While that may mean what happens in God's presence, it also prescribes what to do to secure God's presence. If you find any man whose joy is full, God is never far from him. If you're looking for God's residential address, just check the house of the man with fullness of joy.

LET ME SHARE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT JOY...

Joy is like a pay check that we use to withdraw blessings from God. Isaiah 12:3 tells us that "with joy, shall we draw water out of the Wells of salvation". 

Joel 1:12 identifies the absence of joy to be the root cause of man's suffering. Joy is a proof of faith. If you have faith, it will show in your countenance. Faith that comes with a "frowny" face usually takes time to deliver results. Faith is actually a joyful force; any pastor who preaches faith without expressing joy is only causing more pain. Likewise, any person who expresses faith without an accompanied joy is only expressing his feelings.

Faith is most efficient when accompanied by joy. Just as faith works by love, joy is the thrust behind faith. Your faith declarations would only be wishes without joy. Joy is the strength of faith, and that is why faith needs joy to draw water out of the wells of salvation. Love is the parent of faith, while joy is an alia. Faith alone would never take you to your destination. It got to a point when Jesus had to look up to joy in order to endure the pain and torture that was coming to Him. He had faith, but He needed joy to strengthen His faith.

Faith comes by meditating on the word of God. Joy also comes by meditating on the word, but most times, it comes at the remembrance of the promise of God - even in the presence of storms. When Jesus remembered the promise that was set before Him, to sit at the right hand of God and judge His people, joy came alive in Him. Faith is never far away from joy. If you lose your joy in battle, no matter how powerfully you make confessions in faith, you'd still lose the battle. The operation of faith is automated when joy is located.

Before you cry over a situation, try to laugh over it first. If Satan cannot stop your expression of joy, then he cannot stop your faith from winning.

YOUR JOY IS NOT FOR SALE…

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, just like an orange is a fruit of the earth. If you cannot plant its tree, then you might have to buy it each time you want it. Everybody likes orange, a person that does not like orange is probably not of this age. Everybody loves joy; even the devil rejoices when he destroys the souls of men. 

Everything we do is to rejoice at the end, whether what we do is good or bad. The fact that a person is a "kill-joy" does not mean he hates to be joyful. Joy is the proof of man's existence. If the fruit of joy is thus sweet, then anyone would go any mile to buy it. If your joy is within you then you must guard it with all diligence, because outside it is a huge market containing the issues of life. Joy is the supernatural neutralizer of circumstances.

Joy is within, do not ever allow circumstances get into you; rather, allow joy to go out to meet the circumstance. Joy is the home within your heart, it is not safe to invite trouble into a joy-filled home. You cannot sell your joy until you have completed the transaction in your heart. Anger, grieve, malice, pain, regret, jealousy, envy, covetousness, deception are all currencies that are used to purchase joy.

And you would find out that all these originates and functions from the heart. Scripturally, the only time you are permitted to trade your joy is when you lose someone that is very dear to you. The bible says in Mathew 5:4 "You are blessed when you feel you have lost what is dearest to you. Only then can you be embraced by God, the One dearest to you".

At that point, God understands your grief and so He would ensure you are comforted on every side. I beg you, never trade your joy; your joy is not for sale.