Psalm 1:3 ’He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season…’

The Spirit of God is a life-giving Spirit, nothing dies around Him. He gives life bountifully to all who receive it from Him. He is ever gracious and kind. He is the Spirit of Joy. The only thing that saddens Him is sin and disobedience.

Are you a child of God, having been washed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God? Then God wants you to have joy. He doesn’t want you depressed or in despair. He doesn’t want you saddened by the uncertain circumstances of life. As one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, He wants you to draw joy from Him, because the world can never give you joy, your government, work, business, education and toys can not give you joy because they are not the source of joy. Alcohol, drugs, entertainment and sex are all bereft of joy! God is the only true source of joy and fulfillment. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy. – Psalm 43:4. 

[bctt tweet=”God wants you to have joy, not to be depressed or in despair. He longs to draw you close to HIM!  #findhisjoy #bearingfruit” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

Joy (Chara)

But the fruit of the Spirit is Joy – Galatians 5:22

Joy has a very important role to play in your life, as it produces a direct and strong effect in your total wellbeing, your spiritual life, your finances, your home/marriage/family and many other areas. God knows this and that is why He gave us His Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Joy is health to the bones. A merry (joyful) heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones – Proverbs 17:22. Joy gives spiritual and physical strength. Do not despair, for the joy of the Lord is your strength – Nehemiah 8:10.

Are you filled with the Spirit of God? If your answer is no, then you must seek to be filled with the Spirit. You need Him for you to bear His fruit.

The Greek word for joy, Chara, means cheerfulness that is calm delight, great gladness. You see, joy is an action word, just like love is. Love makes you do something good. Joy also makes you do something good. Joy that the Holy Spirit gives has zero regards for circumstances or situations. It does not regard outward events or happenings! It is like a flowing stream that calms you, soothes you, energizes your spirit on your inside, fills you with faith and makes you sing praises to Jesus! Hallelujah!

The opposite of joy is sorrow, despair, depression and anguish. That belongs to the devil and his crowd and you are not one of them! This is an acceptable saying; Joy that is demonstrated keeps the devil away! Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. – Philippians 3:1.

[bctt tweet=”Joy is an action word. Joy makes you do something good and the joy from the Holy Spirit gives has zero regards for circumstances.  #hisjoy #mywalk” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

Walking in the Spirit

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4

Walking in the Spirit is a choice. Having joy in your life is also a choice. If it wasn’t, the Lord would not tell you to rejoice. In this life, the crafty devil will give you many natural and ‘common-sense’ reasons not to rejoice, but to worry and fret. The devil knows that when you begin to demonstrate joy, he has no place to stay around you. God also knows this, that joy is anti-devil and pro-Jesus. Joy gives room and place to the Lord Jesus. A joyful Christian is a victorious one. A joyful Christian is a magnet to God’s presence and protection.

Have you recently read Isaiah 61:3? Hear what it says: “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

There! You are likened to a tree that God Himself planted so that He can be glorified. If you plant a tree, you’d really love to eat its fruit. The oil of joy is the person of the Holy Spirit who produces the fruit of joy in your life!
Jesus wants you to have joy and show it! These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. – John 15:11.

When your joy is full, it is evident. People see it. It makes you sing and puts the light of heaven upon your face!

[bctt tweet=”When your joy is full, it is evident. People see it. It makes you sing and puts the light of heaven upon your face! #joy” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

Engaging the wisdom of God to bear the fruit of faithfulness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is Joy – Galatians 5:22

  1. Be conscious of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. The Spirit of God dwells in the hearts of every child of God. Your consciousness and utilization of this Divine Presence in you is a foundation that you must build on. ‘…Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – 2 Corinthians 13:5. When life’s ugly situations come knocking on your door, it will meet you ready and prepared ONLY when you are conscious and confident of God’s Divine Presence in you through the Person of the Holy Spirit.
  2. Always pray in other tongues, being full of thanksgiving and praises to God. In the face of the devil and life’s circumstances, make a habit of always praying in tongues, praising the Lord and giving thanks to His name. When the devil wants to make you sad, and you begin to talk in tongues (a language that the devil cannot understand) and thank God praising His name with joyful songs, the devil himself is made sad and depressed. Its true, you make the devil sad and depressed when you praise God joyfully. That is putting you on top and the devil under. ‘Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in the God of my salvation.’ – Habakkuk 3:18. Joy is a powerful force in the Spirit, a weapon of offense and defense. Learn to use it more often, so that God will be glorified in your life.

Are you ready for God to help you bear much fruit of Gentleness?

[bctt tweet=”Glorify God with your joy. Allow His joy to reign in your life. To God be the Glory! #JoyofGod #findjoy” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

I would love to hear how this article impacted you or any questions you have. Make sure to leave a comment below or contact us today. Thank You.

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Angela Lowe, MS. Ed., LPC
Angela Lowe is a licensed Professional Counselor, trained Biblical Counselor and certified Holistic Health Coach. Her kingdom mandate is to restore God’s counsel to transform lives, marriages, and churches worldwide.