Day 17 of Thanksgiving
Today I am thankful for the joy that fills my heart. I have found that God’s joy is ever present — even in times of sorrow and even in the fiercest of battles. That doesn’t mean I’m always smiling or laughing, but that means that deep in my heart, I know that everything will be okay, even if things don’t necessarily go ‘my’ way. Joy in sorrow doesn’t make sense to me through my carnal eyes and neither does joy in the midst of trouble. But I have experienced it many times and can attest to Nehemiah 8:10, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” God wants us to have His joy rooted deep in our hearts. He knows that battles are sometimes long and we get weary, but His joy will give us strength to keep fighting. John 15 tells us how to keep that joy in our hearts continually flowing. We must abide in Christ, the true vine. As we abide in Him, His Word lives in our hearts and we bear fruit as we live out His commandments. John 15:11 says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” I love having a full tank of gas in my car because that means I can go, go, go! Likewise I love having a full tank of joy in my heart because that means I can sing, sing, sing while I fight, fight, fight!!
“…weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” -Psalm 30:5
