Joy Is No Fun

A Japanese Boy’s Story

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The Joy of the Lord is my strength

It was Friday, April 23, 2017 and I was meditating and for some reason I was reflecting on the song "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" and realized that I really didn't have a clear understanding of what that meant biblically! What is God's joy and why should it give me strength?

Joy Is No Fun

What Joy Is?

First of all what is joy?

The dictionary says its a feeling of great pleasure, satisfaction or happiness.

It is expressed emotionally in various ways that we will see in a moment.

But I believe the The Lexham Bible Dictionary makes a clarification that is pivotal in our attempt to understand “joy”.

Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

So as reasonable and rational as You are, You are also an emotional God. I don't know why I find that somewhat startling? I guess because we make statements like, "don't trust your emotions", "don't act rashly based on your emotions", "be rational, don't be so emotional!". I think this negativity toward emotions is because in our sinful state we often allow ourselves to be controlled by our emotions when instead we should control our emotions which would require rationality which You definitely possess.

Definition

Hebrew

Greek

Manifestations

What Joy Is Not

God’s Joy