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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian's life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced only by God...
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Tim Thornton
Supporter
The experience of joy in the Christian life is the byproduct or fruit of faith. If it is directly sought it will elude you. Michael has given an excellent answer- I wish to open a little more fully the relationship of joy to faith. James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. In this passage James is telling us how faith is to be used in the face of trials that have dampened or even crushed our joy. When you first believed in Jesus or in the moments of clarity for your faith, you apprehended the reality that all of your sins are forgiven and you are loved by your creator who loves you so much that he has redeemed you with the precious blood of Jesus. Knowing these things to be true you had joy. Don't read into these words as a 'should be' joyful. While that is true it isn't the point James is making and the problem is a 'should' turns my attention back on myself and you can't will joy. The truth is these trials are by God's appointment designed to ween you from a reliance upon sight and train you as His disciple to live by faith. The trial is like spiritual chemo therapy and the grief you feel is the loss of something important to you, but it will be more beneficial for your faith to be without. Jesus is the Great Physician and in His wisdom He knows what needs to be removed, even precious limbs for your spiritual health and more effective usefulness. A little farther in the text James tells us to seek God's wisdom to see what he is up to. He warns us about not asking in faith. Faith is concerned with seeing what God is accomplishing. My natural mind is concerned with getting out of the trial. It's like waking up in the middle of surgery in a panic frantically pulling out tubes not only nullifying the good of the surgery but finding myself in a worse condition. When going through a trial once a friend told me that God has gone to a lot of trouble to orchestrate this trial. It's to draw you closer to himself. I felt like He was trying to destroy me. He was cutting away parts of me that I thought were the most useful. I had no feelings of joy but by God's grace and the help of faithful friends I could count it all joy in anticipation of gaining a more intimate knowledge of Jesus. All of the apostles teach this same thing. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Our ability to see more fully by faith our unseen Savior is the reward of persevering faith. Believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. This is why in the trial we can count it all joy because we can know where we are going. We have a glorious destination and some pretty good refreshment along the way. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Eliot Even though the trial is forced upon us, it is our wisdom that comes from above that we submit to it and choose to let let go of what God is taking away in order to have more of Him.
Johnnatta Giles
Supporter
I love this question :) the answer is so simple. The closer you get to God the more you feel his joy on the inside of us. If you really want to experience the joy of God give yourself to Him daily. Prayer I have found is the most joyful time of my days. I talk to God often and no matter where I am. The more I connect with Him the more I feel His joy well up on this inside of me. The holy Spirit is what gives us this joy. Because it is the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of us. I know that after I was baptized in the Holy Spirit I felt more joy. The Holy Spirit was always apart of me but after that He was flooded in me. Like the Springs of living water overflowing inside of me. If you don't know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit thats okay. I actually didnt believe in it. Until i started studying in acts and God told me that it is still for me today. I just told God my heart was open and i asked of His spirit to come flood my soul. And i began to speak in another tongue and my life was completely changed. If you truly want to experience that joy i would recommend the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God bless you i will be praying for you :) i may not know who u are but God does.
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
If you are the one who asked this question, you hopefully already have found your joy. If not, I want to try to help you. Or if you are reading this question because you too lack joy, I want to try to help you, too. Obviously, if you don't now have joy, you need to change something or do something different. So I am going to suggest some things I think will help. First, if you haven't already, read all the answers posted above. They each give you good advice. I am going to focus more on actions to take. The first step is to get you seeking joy. What in your life has ever brought you joy even temporarily? Hopefully you didn't answer "nothing" to this question. If so, I will address that below. If you have a spouse that you love or have loved, take a few minutes to remember moments of happiness you have felt. The same applies if you have children or grandchildren. Add together those moments of happiness you remember and dwell on them for a while. Does this not bring you joy? Why is that? LOVE brings JOY. Think about what you love. Joy will come. I know some of you may have lost those you love. If so, I am sorry, but their love never leaves you. Think on those memories as well as everything that you love. Even through pain, love brings joy. If you answered "nothing" to my question above and you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you should have immediately felt joy that your sins have been forgiven. If not, then you need to ask yourself if you truly believe Jesus can forgive your sins. The good news is that He can! So if you truly believe in Him, STOP right now and thank Him OUT LOUD for that forgiveness and accept it. Let His peace that passes all understanding fill you. If you still can't feel that peace and at least take a minute of joy from it, then I suggest you look up the question, "How can I be saved?" here in eBible's questions database. Let's proceed with the assumption that you are saved but still don't feel you have enough joy in your life. I am going to suggest something that you may consider absurd but that I really want you to do. Take a piece of paper out and write the letters in large print J O Y one below the other. After the J write the letters esus. That's right, Jesus. After the O, complete the word optimizes. After the Y write the word You. Jesus optimizes you! That means he makes you the best you you can be. How does he do that? If you invite Him and let Him, He will get inside you through His Spirit. His Spirit will be your help in navigating the pains and turmoil of this world. Let's discuss what that piece of paper represents. First, you can no longer say you have no joy. You have it right there on that piece of paper. If you lose it, you can write it down again and again; you will have joy. Besides that, you now have a reason to have joy that overflows. You have Jesus and Jesus optimizes you. He makes you better. He forgave all your sins by dying in your place. He loves you! LOVE HIM BACK! LOVE BRINGS JOY! Invite His Spirit in and let Him love and help you. Lastly, spending time with those that love you and that you love brings you joy. Spend time with them. Love them. Especially spend time with Jesus. How do you do that? By reading His Word in the Bible. Start with the book of John. Feel His love. Then talk to Him in prayer just like He was sitting across from you. You will find joy!
Daniel Veler
Supporter
Your question: “How can I experience joy in my Christian life?” Experiencing joy in your Christian life is not the same as the joy that comes from the flesh. Instead, it’s the joy that the Lord plants within your heart through his Holy Spirit. It’s a gift from above. When people refer to it as “our joy,” they haven’t truly understood that it’s God’s joy, not ours. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy that the Lord himself sows into our hearts. If you want to have joy in the Lord, it’s given to you. If you have any faith within you, it’s given to you by the Lord. If you have any love within you, it’s given to you by the Lord. All of these are gifts from the Lord. All these fruits are from above and not generated by the flesh. Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Look for the things that come from above. The world’s joy never lasts. But the joy God gives you endures in times of tribulation, persecution, and trials. It provides you with understanding.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
To experience joy in your Christian life, you must first understand where joy is not found. History is littered with those who pursued it in all the wrong places. Voltaire, the infidel, wished he had never been born. Lord Byron, who lived for pleasure, found only grief (this is not to even mention Hugh Hephner). Millionaire Jay Gould died calling himself the most miserable man on earth. Lord Beaconsfield achieved fame and position but called life a "mistake," a "struggle," and a "regret." Alexander the Great conquered the known world, only to weep because there were no more worlds to conquer. Wealth, pleasure, fame, power, and unbelief all lead to emptiness. So where is real joy found? The answer is simple: in Christ alone. Christian joy is not a fleeting emotion dependent on good circumstances; it is a deep, abiding gift rooted in your relationship with God. It flows from knowing your sins are forgiven, from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"), and from the secure hope of eternal life (Romans 5:2 -- "through whom [Jesus] we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."). To experience this joy, you cultivate it through spiritual disciplines, rejoicing in God's Word (Psalm 119:162 -- "I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure."), praying and praising Him (John 16:24), and walking in obedience to His commands, because Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:10-11). Even in trials, you can have joy by trusting God's sovereign purposes (James 1:2-3 -- "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." James 1:2-3 NLT). Ultimately, you stop chasing what the world offers and start resting in what Christ has already given: Himself, the true and lasting source of joy. The scripture list from Nave's Topical Bible The historical examples (Voltaire, Byron, Gould, Beaconsfield, Alexander) from "The Bible Friend"
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