Joy In The Hollow

This past year, my blog posts have ended with the word ‘joy’ and today’s post is the last one for the 2018 year. What can be said about this little, big word and how it relates to prayer? Plenty. Invest time in reading your Bible to find out.

But here, highlighted thoughts that come to mind will have to do.

I am intrigued that it was for the joy set before Him that Jesus Christ endured the cross.

Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

To an unbeliever, the cross is foolishness. But to the believer who is enabled with different eyes through the power of the Holy Spirit, the cross is the point of the story the Author makes and the completion of our faith. The joy set before Him is, to me, a particular joy. It’s a special joy only Christ can know and have. And it must be such an awesome joy to have endured not only the cross and death itself but also the crushing from His own Father.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;

he hath put him to grief:

when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,

and the pleasure of the LORD

shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:10

When you’re lowly, read Isaiah 35 about the joy of the redeemed. What an uplifting passage! When we see corruption around us and realize our own going astray, it’s encouraging to know there is a better place. There is a highway that wicked fools will not be able to walk upon. There is a sin-free place of everlasting joy.

And an highway shall be there, and a way,

and it shall be called The way of holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it;

but it shall be for those:

the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast

shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;

but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy

upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35: 8-10

How do we become clean? What does Revelation 22:14 mean? If we confess our sin, He is able to forgive us. Repentance is taught in the Bible. Churches need to keep preaching repentance because there is joy when a sinner repents and we are all sinners.

Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 15:10

Another thought about joy is that it is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit, right after love. Although all the fruits of the Spirit are probably equal, still, it’s listed second, right after love, which is greater than faith and hope according to 1^st Corinthians 13:13. To me, the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are like the 3-in-1 Trinity—different aspects of a loving God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

Galatians 5: 22-23

The fruit of the Spirit delivers light in a dark world. The Holy Spirit, or Counselor, lives within the heart of the believer. What does the Counselor do? He teaches us, reminds us, guides us, convicts us, tells the future, brings glory to Jesus and testifies about Jesus (John 14:15-John 16:16). And look at this encouraging promise about joy spoken by Jesus:

And ye now therefore have sorrow:

but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,

and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:22

Solid in joy. Do you see it? Do you know it? Remember joy. We pray for peace and patience. When was the last time you prayed for joy? Ask for joy as you celebrate the birth of God’s lovely Son, Jesus Christ.

May you experience the joy of a very Merry Christmas!

And enjoy a snowy winter hollow with reminders of God’s providence to be upon the highway leading to everlasting JOY!