Betty Welch finds Joy

How do you define Joy? What does it mean to you that Jesus gives us Joy? Jesus gives us joy.

​ NLT11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

This joy that Jesus gives will change your perspective in life’s situations. A person that can be described as an optimist is a person who tends to be hopeful. Optimist is a person who tends to be confident about the future or the success of something. Betty Welch was hopeful in the Lord and truly expects God to do just what he said he would. So I encourage you today to rejoice.

Philippians 4:4–9 NLT

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-

Rejoice In the Lord

Paul gives a command to the church to rejoice in the Lord. :4Be full of joy in the Lord.He said the command twice. Choose to have joy. Do not let the schemes of the enemy trap you. The enemy is looking for confusion and division in your life.

Joy in the Lord in unity and fellowship

Philippians 2:2 NLT

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

NASB952 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Betty found joy in unity and hearing the good things people are doing. She prayed when she saw people hurting in their lives. She would share Jesus and invite them to her church. She loved to worship and rejoice in the Lord with her church family. We can have joy with one another in good times and in times of suffering we can still find Joy in Jesus. Paul showed us this

Philippians 2:17 NLT

17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

Betty wanted to serve the Lord until He called her home.

She loved to study and teach God’s word.

She loved to hear God’s word.

She loved to sing hymns and songs about God’s word.

​ NLT17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

Paul in writing to Philippians to rejoice is speaking from a position of showing how to rejoice in the Lord. Paul is willing to suffer for the gospel sake and know the joy of the Lord.There is joy in suffering for the Lord.We come to know joy through the suffering of our Lord.

​ NLT2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Joy is waiting for those who follow Jesus.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus is following his commands. Jesus commanded us to love on another. Jesus told us to serve one another. Jesus commanded us to die to our self and live for him carrying our own cross waiting for our joy. Joy is found in the Lord and his great redemptive power. We have joy because we have victory in Jesus. We have joy because joy was given to us in Jesus. Let us then rejoice in the Lord and serve with joy until he comes back again.

Find Joy through Humility.

​ NASB955 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

​ NLT5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Do not insist on being right and having your way.

We need to show more:Tolerance, Reasonableness, consideration, and gentle spirit. This command is given as he is concluding his letter. Paul urges us to live with the same mind and our attitude of Jesus (). Jesus showed great humility in suffering for sinners. Jesus could insisted in being right but for our sake he showed humility and bore our punishment (Philippians 2:7).

​ NLT7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

Surrender to the Lord and know Salvation

There is joy in letting go.There is joy in surrendering to the Lord.“There is beauty in my brokenness I've got true love instead of pain There is freedom though you've captured me I've got joy instead of mourning”Joy comes form knowing you are kept by the Lord.

Lord is near!

He has come and will come again.We are to serve until the Lord comes back again.We have work to be done for his glory.

Find Joy in prayer.

​ NLT6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Prayer helps remove worry.

What do you gain in worrying about stuff?StressHypertensionGray hair

​ NLT34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

2. Put it all in the Lord’s hands.

Pray about everything.

Tell God what you need.How good is our God toward his children.Will he not provide for his children. (My provider)Will he not protect his children. (My Savior)How do you know your God? Know him as Lord of all.God is faithful always.Thank God for what he has done. ()

Joy leads to Peace

​ NLT7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Living in Christ Jesus gives us peace and joy. Jesus will give you peace from all the worries of the world and joy of being in his presence. Jesus has given us peace by saving us from sin.God of peace wants us to live in peace. In joy there is peace as we trust in the Lord.