The Joy of the LORD

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

Did you know that joy is a reward of good stewardship? 
How do you cultivate true and lasting joy? 
As a Biblical Entrepreneur, why should joy be important to you?

The Joy of the LORD

I don’t know about you, but personally, I am troubled by people who walk around with a perpetual frown on their faces.  They are like prunes, rather than fresh, sweet, juicy oranges!  

Some may say, “It is not realistic to be joyful all the time.”  But I say it is, “Why?” 

The Bible commands us to walk in the Spirit, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. Therefore, if you are not joyful, then you are not walking in the Spirit.  

The joy that is a fruit of the Spirit is an emotion of profound happiness. Joy produces outward expressions of praise because of deep inward strength, conviction, and excitement about the blessings of God. This joy is like fresh and living water that comes from an abundant stream that flows from the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-38). It is like freshly squeezed orange juice straight from the source.  

The joy of the LORD is a joy that only God can provide.  It is produced out of a dynamic, two-way relationship with the LORD, with an internal sense of accomplishment that is based on excellent stewardship over the things that God has placed in your care. 

“His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” – Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

In Matthew 25:20-23, the master rewards the excellent stewardship of the servants whom he had given the two and the five talents. Their reward is greater responsibility in their master’s service and entrance into the joy of the LORD.   

True joy cannot be achieved without good stewardship.  Joy is not just about feeling happy about something. It is about feeling a sense of accomplishment. If you have joy, but you are not faithfully carrying out your responsibilities, it will be short-lived because it is not the joy that is derived from an internal sense of satisfaction. But if your joy is based upon a sense of accomplishment and progression,  achieved through a growing relationship with the LORD, it will be true and lasting.  

This wonderful joy of the LORD is characterized by:

• Peace 
• Fulfillment 
• Accomplishment 
• Gratefulness 
• Enthusiasm 
• Smiles
• Contagion – others will catch it from you! 

This joy has several benefits for us Biblical Entrepreneurs:

1. Joy is Good for Business
   Who would you rather do business with, a joyful person or a sad person?  

2. Joy Strengthens You
   There is supernatural strength contained in, and produced by, the joy of the LORD.
   
   Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  – Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

3. Joy is good for your health
   
   A merry (Joyful) heart does good, like medicine,
   but a broken spirit dries up the bones. 
   – Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

My prayer for you today is that as you demonstrate faithfulness and excellent stewardship over your responsibilities, God will bring you into His joy and that His joy will increase in you and reproduce in those around you.