{"id":54211,"date":"2023-09-04T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/?p=54211"},"modified":"2023-09-09T20:27:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T00:27:34","slug":"the-joy-of-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/devotionals\/the-joy-of-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"The Joy of the LORD","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that joy is a reward of good stewardship?\u00a0
How do you cultivate true and lasting joy?\u00a0
As a Biblical Entrepreneur, why should joy be important to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!\u00a0 <\/em>\u2013 Philippians 4:4 <\/a>(NKJV)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Joy of the LORD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know about you, but personally, I am troubled by people who walk around with a perpetual frown on their faces.\u00a0 They are like prunes, rather than fresh, sweet, juicy oranges!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some may say, \u201cIt is not realistic to be joyful all the time.\u201d <\/em>\u00a0But I say it is, \u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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)<\/strong>. It is like freshly squeezed orange juice straight from the source.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joy of the LORD is a joy that only God can provide.\u00a0 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.\u00a0

\u201cHis Lord said to him, \u2018Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. <\/em>Enter into the joy of your lord<\/em><\/strong>.\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew 25:20-23, <\/strong>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\u2019s service and entrance into the joy of the LORD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True joy cannot be achieved without good stewardship.\u00a0 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,\u00a0 achieved through a growing relationship with the LORD, it will be true and lasting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wonderful joy of the LORD is characterized by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n