Suddenly this week I was humming and dancing around in my house; and I thought "What am I so happy about?" There is no reason for my joy. In fact, someone had just stolen some cash out of my car minutes before this joy burst up in my spirit. I truly began to question my sanity.
When things like this happen to me I pray. I cried out to God, "Why on earth am I dancing around here with euphoria?" Then the verse in Nehemiah came to mind, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."
Ummm...the joy of the Lord....the joy OF THE LORD...in the past have I assumed my own joy was like the Lord's? Folks, I'm no theologian or Biblical scholar. I have no credentials, titles or certification, but this is new for me.
Send me anything you find on this and I'll write it up here on the blog, but I have never read of such a clear distinction between my natural joy and this effervescent joy that gurgled up in me for no explainable reason.
I believe in the past I have proclaimed this verse and called my natural joy the Lord's joy coming to me. But this experience this week burst through my natural feelings and was a beautiful surprise.
This joy has strengthened me. I have wept this week since this is the anniversary week of my husband's cancer diagnosis. But oh, this new joy coming up in my spirit over-rides the grief and sadness that tries to creep up in my mind. God's amazing grace is wonderful.
To all you readers I encourage you to pray for God to give you HIS JOY and may it strengthen you in whatever you are going through or aspiring to. He is a loving Saviour and Father to us all.
Hallelujah!
2 comments:
I affirm what you are wrote.
My present understanding is that I experience real 'joy' by accepting that another mind 'loves' for me to be with them. As my heart has experienced God loving for me to be with Him, that I am very special to Him (no matter how I 'feel' about myself at the moment), that I am the 'apple of His eye' (even in the midst of seemingly depressing external circumstances) that has given me similar responses as you described.
As God looks at me as part of His family, He joys over me with singing. Awesome.
Experiencing His joy overflowing into me is truly empowering to me.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
So thankful for God's Joy in your heart today, especially with the emotional events of the week. His presence is near, he turns mourning to dancing! Dance sweet friend! Hugs to you.
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