Full Of The Joy Of The Lord by Kim Reisman

Scripture Focus:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT)

Paul was in prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, yet this is one of his most remarkable contributions to us Christians. From prison, and nearing the end of his life, he wrote an appealing and convincing argument for the Christian faith. It’s Paul’s most joy-filled letter. He calls on the Philippians to rejoice – not just to rejoice in one act of praise and thanksgiving, but to rejoice always.

The last two verses of his letter form the capstone and give the reason why joy is not only possible but is the logical response to the experience that is ours.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 4:19-20 (NLT)

It’s a bold affirmation: Our God will supply our every need “according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” One difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is tied to circumstances – what’s going on around us. Joy is much deeper – it’s not dependent on circumstances but on commitment and trust.

A big enemy of joy is self-pity. The antidote to self-pity is the confidence that God will supply our every need. However much we lack that confidence, that’s how much our joy will be limited.

Do you remember the story of Elijah in the Hebrew Scripture? He was overcome with self-pity when he began to think that God no longer cared for him. It happened when he heard Jezebel had sent her soldiers to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-2). How quickly he had forgotten. God had intervened with direct and supernatural care by responding to his request that it not rain (1 Kings 17:1), by feeding him through the ravens for an entire year (1 Kings 17:6), and by providing the support of a widow who hid him from his enemies (1 Kings 17:9). And God demonstrated his faithfulness by sending fire to incinerate the altar when all the prophets of Baal couldn’t get even a whimper from their god (1 Kings 18:38).

How quickly Elijah forgot. So, when Jezebel came after him, he gave in to self-pity. When immediate success and visible results didn’t come in his ministry, he wallowed deep in despondency: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4).

How quickly we forget!

Elijah discovered, as we need to discover, that God doesn’t always work in the ways we want God to work. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Our joy isn’t in the WAY God works, but in the fact THAT God works. For Elijah, God wasn’t in the earthquake, wind, and fire, but in the still small voice.

As you pray and fast this week, reflect on a time when you knew God supplied your need. What was going on in your life? What were your needs? How were those needs met? How did you feel and respond?

Are you struggling now with particular issues and needs, wondering why God doesn’t help or intervene? Maybe you have prayed, but no answers seem to be forthcoming. How might your reflection above give you clues about how you might respond to what is going on now?

This week I will be praying that you would become ever more aware that our joy isn’t in the way God works, but in the fact that God works.