If you are looking for fulfillment and joy today; it can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ....
1) Joy is a gift from God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV
Joy is a gift from God. We can't fabricate joy or choose to have joy apart from God. God gives us His joy through the Holy Spirit. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit so in order for a person to have joy they must have the Spirit of God in their life.
If this is true, it is impossible for a person to have God's joy apart from having God in their life. A person who does not have a relationship with Jesus Christ may experience happiness for a season, but they cannot truly have joy apart from God since joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It is in God's presence that Joy can be received and experienced.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11, NKJV
It has been 15 years ago now that I gave my life to Jesus Christ and received His joy into my life. I have had such an amazing life with Him the past 15 years. The moment I said yes to Him and gave Him my life an instant change took place in me. As He filled me with His Spirit, fulfillment and Joy came along with it. I was fulfilled in that moment for the first time in my life. My soul was satisfied. I finally found what I had been searching for. I found joy in Jesus! You cannot separate fulfillment and joy; the two are the same. Joy is fulfillment and fulfillment is Joy.
If you are looking for fulfillment and joy today; it can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Put your faith in Jesus, surrender your life to Him, and you too, can have God's joy in your life!
2) Joy is experienced through giving.
Everything begins and ends with God. He is the beginning and the end. In order for us to have anything good to offer to others we must first receive from Him. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Our love for others is expressed through our giving. God is our example in this. He loves us so much that He gave His only son Jesus to die on a cross for our sins; so that we could be forgiven, made righteous, and receive eternal life (John 3:16). God's desire for us is to receive His love and offer it to others.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:11-13, NKJV
In John 15 Jesus tells us if we love others as He has loved us, His Joy would remain in us and our joy would be full. How did Jesus love us? He gave His life up for us. According to Him, this is the greatest expression of love that can be given by man. So, this means joy comes through loving or giving to others. Many people don't get to experience joy on this level because they live selfish lives; rarely giving to others. This is why the Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). There is more fulfillment or joy in giving than there is in receiving. I believe God set it up this way because He wants the world to experience and receive His love through our lives.
God wants our joy to be full. If our joy can be full, then it cannot be empty. Is the tank of your life full of joy or empty of joy? If you are running low, the best way to get filled back up is to show love to someone by giving them a gift. Your gift doesn't always have to be monetary. You can offer your time to someone in need of it. You can mow your neighbor's lawn free of charge. There are many kind acts of love you can give away that do not cost money.
Today fill up your joy tank by investing a gift of love into the life of someone else!
3) Your strength comes from God's joy.
"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV
As I look around, people seem to be desperate for energy now days. The sales of energy drinks have gone through the roof. It seems like there's a new energy drink being placed on the market daily. You cannot walk into a store anywhere without finding multiple brands of energy drinks for sale. Have you ever wondered why this is? Do they just taste that good or do people really need a boost of energy?
Let me first say, I am not against energy drinks, so you can relax. I have drank energy drinks in the past and from time to time I will enjoy one because I like the flavor of some. I normally don't drink them because I need energy or because it is what's trending.
The reason many people are depleted of energy is because they don't have the knowledge and understanding of the true source of energy. Energy for our bodies is a result of God's joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
So if you want strength you must maintain joy in your life. If you want joy you must spend time in God's presence and live to give!
B. Burnam