“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the Sweet and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength “– Nehemiah 8: 10
All over the world, mankind keep on seeking for Joy in several ways. Many chase after money, thinking if they can amerce enough wealth, to be able to buy anything they want at all times, they would be Joyful. But when they eventually gather this wealth, they become even more miserable and empty than they were.
Some believe if they can marry the woman or man of their dreams they would be peaceful and Joyful all their lives. But when they eventually marry the spouse of their choice, after a few days, they discover the emptiness and the misery is still there; and sometimes even multiplied. Some drink; some fornicate around; some club and revel; all in search of Joy, but all to no avail…
With these enumerated efforts of men at finding Joy, the best some manage to get by with is momentary happiness and pleasure… Only to return a few while to their usual state of misery. Sometimes in a multiplied form. This being the pathetic state of mankind, our opening text (Nehemiah 8:10) opens our eyes to the true and perfect Joy.
And that is, the joy of the Lord. Other synonyms for this joy of the Lord as used in the scriptures are: The joy of Salvation (Psalms 51:12) and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).The joy of the Lord or joy in the Holy Ghost, is the only satisfactory and lasting joy in this world and any other world. Apart from the joy of the Lord, any other kind of joy is vain and temporal…
They are majorly the result of momentary happenings around a person. They have a very short expiration time. But the joy of the Lord on the other hand, is not just a function of the happenings around. It is a continual work of grace in the life of a believer in Christ Jesus, by the Holy Ghost.
The joy of Lord is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22). The joy of the Lord is what the bible refers to as the oil of joy in Isaiah 61:3. This joy of the Lord is not situation-driven. It is available to every believer, both in good times and trying times…
However, in as much as this joy of the Lord is within the reach of every believer at all times, believers still get weighed down by one issue of life or the other. So in this article, we want to see the biblical ways of receiving this joy of the Lord. Which also double as the ways through which our joy of salvation can be restored unto us if we ever lose it for any reason.
‘’How To Receive The Joy Of The Lord’’
Listed below are the biblical ways of receiving divine joy—the Joy of the Lord. And these are also the ways through which your joy of Salvation can be restored.
- Salvation: The joy of the Lord comes into your heart when
you get born again, by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal
Saviour. As you repent of your sins and accept to live for the Lord Jesus all
the days of your life, the Lord forgives you all your sins and you’re saved.
And immediately, the Holy Spirit floods your heart with the joy of Salvation
(The joy of the Lord).
- The word of God: ‘’Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. For I am called by thy name; O LORD God of hosts’’ – Jeremiah 15: 16
this Scripture says it all. We receive the joy of the Lord through his revealed word from Scriptures. So if you need the joy of the Lord, make studying and meditating on God’s word a lifestyle. (Read also John 15:11)
- Godliness: ‘’For God giveth to a man that is good in his
sight wisdom, and Knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to
gather and to heap up, that he many give to him that is good before God. This
also is vanity and vexation of spirit “—Ecclesiastes 2: 26.
From the above scripture, it is crystal clear that goodness in the sight of God—godliness—is a major way of receiving the joy of the Lord. Living a life that is pleasant to the Almighty God, gives us complete joy at all times. So to receive the joy of the Lord in your heart, you must live godly.
- Prayers: ‘’Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full’’—John 16:24
from this Scripture, our Lord and Saviour gives us a top secret for accessing the full or complete joy in the Holy Ghost. And that is, asking and receiving from God—the prayer of faith.
If you need the joy of the Lord, go to prayers unto God by faith. Ask the Lord to lift your burden. Ask him to intervene in your situation. Ask him to flood your heart with joy. And when you do so consistently by faith; you will always enjoy the full joy of the Lord.
- God’s Presence –the Infilling of the
Holy Ghost: ‘’Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy
presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore’’
the above scripture says it all. In God’s presence is fullness of joy. And we can easily enter into God’s presence by being filled with the Holy Ghost. To receive divine joy, seek to be filled with the Holy Ghost at all times by praying, singing psalms and hymns in your heart to the Lord (see Ephesians 5:18-19).
So here you have it. Those are the biblical ways of receiving the eternal and pleasurable joy of the Lord in your heart at all times.
As I conclude, in case you’ve not yet received the Lord Jesus into your heart for the salvation of your soul, Click Here to do so now. Remember, salvation is your number one access to the joy of the Lord.
Remain Blessed!
Emeke Odili
