Chasing joy

Chasing Joy
March 6, November 6, 2011 (Bible verses references listed below.)

Why chase joy? Because our Creator wants us to know joy, complete and perfect joy!

So many of the pursuits in our culture and society are a vain attempt to fill the void left by a lack of joy in our lives. We pursue popularity, success, family, acceptance, sex, possessions, ... We hope that if we finally accomplish these pursuits we will have happiness, joy. But we always come up short of our goal, our joy tank is empty.

We approach joy as if it is something we can muster or contrive. That is not the nature of true joy. Most Bible references to joy note that God is the source of joy.
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.”(David)
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah)
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”(Jesus)
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (Jesus)
“... so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (Jesus)

Joy’s foundation is in God’s nature, character, and provision, in what He has accomplished on our behalf, including forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.
Joy is to be an integral part of the walk with Christ, a fruit of being in step with the Spirit.
Joy is the natural response to recognizing and receiving God’s grace toward us.
Joy is the intentional response to adversity and persecution.
Joy should become a habit, just as love should be a habit that results in walking in obedience.
Joy is the by-product of such a love-walk in faith, an inexpressible and glorious joy.
Joy comes with obedience.

Anxiety, doubt, vain imaginations, and impure thoughts are only a few of the enemies of joy.
Chasing joy requires taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ - and we need His help to do it. Our power is insufficient to gain complete control of our own thoughts.
(See also “Rejoice?”)

Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 4:7; 16:11; 30:5-6; 51:12; 126:3
Isaiah 12:3; 58:14
Habakuk 3:17-18
Zephaniah 3:17
Matthew 5:11-12; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5
Luke 1:46-48; 2:10; 10:20-21
John 15:11; 16:20-24; 17:13
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
Galatians 5:22-23
Philippians 3:1; 4:4-9
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, God’s will? Be joyful, pray, give thanks!
I Peter 1:3-9
Hebrews 12:2, Jesus’ choice