Complete Joy

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!"

Psalm 32:1-2 NLT

Everlasting joy is found in God alone. If we depend on others to produce joy, then we only experience temporary moments of it, and we are never satisfied. Same if we try to produce our own joy. It's erratic and inconsistent, and we will live in a constant state of disappointment and dissatisfaction. Only God can produce complete joy. "For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete." (Deuteronomy 16:15 NIV)

The beauty of God's joy is that because it is complete, you'll overflow with it. Knowing your sins are forgiven is the starting point to finding this joy. Receiving this forgiveness as a gift and then opening it by living a life of complete honesty in gratitude and praise towards God will produce the harvest of joy. Living a life for yourself is manufacturing joy, and that just isn't going to work. It's like chasing the wind.

Joy is essential to living the life Christ died to give you. It is a fruit of the Spirit, and because it is a fruit, you would need to remain in the Vine to receive it in order to produce it. How do you do that? Spend time with Him daily in Word, prayer, and worship. It doesn't matter how much time you spend with Him because God can multiply and bless any amount of time. Confess your sins, receive forgiveness, ask Him for joy to fill your heart, and thank Him for all He has done for you. "Until now you have asked for nothing in my name.Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (John 16:24 CSB)

Consider also keeping a gratitude journal. The more you give thanks, the more joy you'll experience. The more joy you have, the more strength you will have to endure the hardships in life because joy isn't based on circumstances. But joy does outlast them.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 CSB) And may you receive the extra blessings that come with having complete joy!