Experiencing the Fruit of Joy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

God wants us to gain a greater understanding of how to experience the fruit of joy, not just temporarily, but for the duration of our spiritual walk. As we see here in Galatians, one element of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. All have received the seed of joy as a benefit of salvation for those who have accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The word salvation comes from the Greek word “sozo”. Its root meaning goes beyond the forgiveness of sins. It means to save, deliver, restore, and make whole. We can read throughout Scripture how joy can be expressed in various ways. For example, David expressed his joy in the Lord outwardly through the form of dance. In 2 Samuel 6:14-22, it says that David danced before the Lord with all his might. And to shed another light of truth, the Bible says that for the joy that was set before Christ, He endured the Cross.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

This type of joy has more of an inward lasting impression than it does displayed outwardly. This tells us that joy can be present in one’s heart irrespective of external circumstances. I remember in my mid 20’s to early 30’s, dealing with severe depression before I grew in my understanding of divine knowledge. Although I had been reborn of the Spirit, I didn’t have enough of God’s Word in me to help counter the demands of life. The Bible says that the cares of this world choke out the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.

And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:19 NKJV

Have you ever wondered why some plants or trees produce more fruit than others? Or why some trees never produce any fruit at all? One thing about fruit is that it must go through several stages of development, by means of proper nurturing, in order to come to fruition. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing; John 15:5. So, you can be reborn of the Spirit, yet still be spiritually malnourished due to not abiding in Christ and/or by having a lack of spiritual understanding.  This is why it says in Proverbs 4:7, in all your getting, to get understanding, meaning an understanding of God’s Word and how to apply it to your daily life.

Delight Yourself in the Lord

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:2-3 NKJV

To delight in the law of God is a personal decision that will reap great benefits within the soulish realm of each individual that applies the Word of God. This is the path that leads to having a prosperous soul, which affects your mental and emotional state of mind. So, the Psalmist exhorts us to delight in the law of the Lord. Psalm 36:9 puts it this way…. It says, for with You (God) is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. I exhort you to delight in the light! To that point, this is why you need the Word and the Spirit. The Word of God produces life by bringing clarity, wisdom, and correction. And the Holy Spirit will illuminate the Word of God and make it applicable for whatever life season you’re in. Know that seasons change, but the Word of God remains constant. Let’s look at Psalm 16:11.

In His Presence is Fullness of Joy

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 NKJV

Joy comes with spending time in the presence of God, which requires a heart of worship. So, true worship towards God will produce Joy. Let’s look at Psalm 33:3

Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 33:3 NKJV

To give you an illustration, there’s 2 sides to a telescope. You can magnify an object through one side of the lens, or you can turn it around and make the object look further away. When we begin to magnify God, we make God bigger than our problems; everything else pales in comparison. As a result, it will produce joy and peace, which will give you strength to continue your course.

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. NKJV

There are some things that you go through in this world, which will require a renewal of strength and endurance. You may experience a moment of weakness that will require strength and endurance for the long-haul. I’ve found that endurance is developed through the application of faith, joy, persistence, and patience. So, I encourage you to keep showing up for the task at hand, remain faithful concerning what God has entrusted you with, and watch God move mightily in your life! This can apply to your marriage. It can also apply to your job. Think of a woman who endures pain to bring forth the birth of a child. After delivering the baby, she experiences the joy of bringing forth a new life. What is it that God wants to birth through you? Time is precious. But you know what’s even more precious in the eyes of God? Time spent well doing what God sent you here to accomplish.

Protect Your Joy

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

Once you find out what brings you joy and you begin to discover that your joy is being filled, then you want to guard it as if you would guard any other of your personal possessions that you deem valuable. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy; John 10:10. And the enemy would love to rob you of your joy. I got to a point in my life where I decided that there were certain people, places, and thoughts that I was no longer going to entertain. You must cast down imaginations that try to exalt itself above the Word of God 2 Cor. 10:5. The Word of God says that you are blessed, loved, healed, and more than a conqueror. Next, you should avoid trying to find joy in the wrong places. Although you may experience moments of happiness in the world based on certain events, know that those things are not sustainable. For instance, if you try to find your joy in people, you’ll soon realize that people have their own issues to work through that can begin to weigh on you and cause you grief or disappointment. Moreover, if you try to find joy in a job, you may start a new job and experience a moment of happiness. Then later find that the job was not everything you thought it was hyped up to be.

5 Areas of Focus to Help Cultivate Joy

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 NKJV

You want to not only be full of faith, you want to be full of joy. Here are 5 key areas of focus, so your joy may be full:

1. Your Relationship with God
2. Your Time Spent with Your Family
3. Being Fruitful- Doing what God created you to do.
4. Enjoying Personal Interest and Hobbies
5. Serving Others

Conclusion

In summary, there are some things in life that God created for us to enjoy based on our unique personalities, gifts, and talents. So, take the time to ask yourself, what are some things that you enjoy doing that bring you happiness? What energizes you? Notice how you get a burst of energy whenever you begin to do something that you really enjoy. The point is that joy will energize you. Moreover, the Bible says that a merry heart does good like a medicine. In other words, a heart that’s lively and cheerful. I encourage you to live joyfully and laugh often. God bless you!

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22 NKJV