From The Living Bible Online

Word of God online daily Bible study

April 5, 2009 Scripture verse of the day

Psalms 16:11

You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures your own eternal presence.

Scripture reading of the day

Psalms 16

Save me, O God, because I come to you for refuge.  I said to him, “you are my Lord; I have no other help but yours.” I want the company other godly men and women in the land; they are true nobility.  Those choosing other gods shall all be filled with sorrow; I will not offer the sacrifices they do or even see the names of their gods.

The Lord himself is my inheritance, my price.  He is my food and drink, my highest joy!  He guards all that is mine.  He sees that I am given pleasant brooks and meadows as my share!  What a wonderful inheritance!  I will bless the Lord who counsels me; he gives me wisdom in the night.  He tells me what to do.

I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall.  Heart, body, and soul are filled with joy.

For you will not leave me among the dead; he will not allow your beloved one to rot in the grave.

You have let me experience the joys of life in the exquisite pleasures your own eternal presence.

Sam’s response

There is a difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is short-term and it is very close to sorrow.  Happiness is of this world, and typically comes from the external events, things, people, and the day-to-day roller coaster of life.

Joy is completely different.  When I first became a Christian, one of the things I noticed was certain people only seem to be “happy”.  But it was more than being happy it was an energy that seems to affect everyone around them.  I knew right away that this is what I wanted. I wanted to be filled with joy.

I have to say after six years of walking with the Lord, that I have yet attained a kind of joy that I’m talking about.  This joy, is internal and is not affected by the external of what goes around.  This joy, comes from the Holy Spirit in your relationship with God.  This joy is the infilling of God’s love.  This love is so deep and strong that it comes forth as an energy that will affect anyone around.

This joy is not dependent on what happens here on earth. THis joy is not dependent upon having money or anything else that this world offers.  This joy I am talking about is spiritual in nature.  Jesus said before he was crucified that he would send another, and that another is the Holy Spirit that every one of us had access to it were willing to be open and we ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

This joy that is so much different than happiness for me has been a process.  I will not stop seeking his joy that awaits me.  I believe this joy cannot come and tell all of the full nature of myself has been completely cleansed and washed away. I also believe his joy cannot come until you are fully surrendered to God. I also believe that this joy cannot come until you become fully aware of deep God loves you, and that he always has a very best interests in your life no matter what happens, or what you see around you in your life.  This is a level of trust and love towards God that can only come from a daily walk in pursuit, and love to have God in your life in all you do.

Joy is eternal – happiness is fleeting

I look forward to the day when I am so full of God, and God’s love, that joy reigns in my life on a daily basis.  This joy cannot be stolen away.  It is permanent and eternal and spiritual and cannot be touched by the enemy.

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