Richie's Blog

jottings from life in Richie's world…

Tag Archives: joy

Be the envy of the world!

Psalm 94:12 (NLT), Psalm 94:13 (NLT)

Have you ever given thought that whilst injustice is all around, the godless seem to prosper is not just short lived but compared to those living in God’s way are blessed! The Amplified puts it well expanding on Joy that other translations use with: happy, fortunate and to be envied!

Allow your life to be an example of life as you live out of that place of daily living in the instruction and discipline of discovering who God is! Reading his word, prayer and relationship with Christ Jesus!

Consequently you will have peace, hope in troubled times (short lived) (v13)

Be the envy of those around you that they would see what you have and want it for themselves!


Joy in the House!

Psalm 84:2-5 (NLT), Psalm 84:7 (NLT), Psalm 84:10 (NLT)

After a long day at work, school or college there is something refreshing about coming home! Get the picture?

In the psalm today we read of joy in the house! Do you long to get into that place, that presence you can call home?

There is a real joy, refreshing, peace and strength renewed coming back into the presence of God – its like your spiritual home!

V2 & 10 – Where would you rather be? do you long to make your home with Father God? Imagine you have had a long tiring day and you just want to come home get refreshed, renew your strength! Do you know the Lord desires for you to make HIM your home where your strength is renewed and real joy will be experienced!

Compare where you’re spending your ‘home’ time today? Is it leading you into the joy of the Lord? Here is some of the characteristics of Joy:
Blessed (v4-5)
Peace (v6) even through troubled times
Strength renewed & growing (v5 & 7)
Wow factor (natural shouts of joy bursting out) (v2)
Refreshed (v6)
Set your minds on the things of God (v5)
Presence of God, appreciate and need more (v1 & v3b)

Spend some time hanging out with Father God today, make him YOUR HOME the place you run too! Ask Him to fill you with real JOY!


A joy that changes nations

Psalm 47:1-2 (NIV), Psalm 47:4-5 (NIV), Psalm 47:9 (NIV)

When I reflect on this Psalm I am reminded of the song, “Can a nation be changed… Can a nation be turned back to you?” because this Psalm characterises the key element that will see our nations, cities, communities even our family changed!

What is Joy? What does it mean to know the Joy of the Lord?

When i consider most nations today with local economies in turmoil for example we can’t say our nations know joy, can we!?!

Here the call to God’s people! His Church! To Raise the Joy level!
1/ (v1,2) Proclaim the Joy of the Lord – declare! Shout aloud! Tell out the wonderous deeds (give testimony) to what He is doing!
2/ (v4) Know your inheritance is sure! A hope which is not uncertain but solid!
3/ (v5) declaring the Joy & hope that you have will effect people around you! It will influence nations & communities! Start in your family!
4/ (v9) let the joy rub off on those people of influence in your town, city, community that they may enquire of the Lord!

Live in the Joy of the Lord! Today write down your joy list! What are you thankful to God today? Go to your private place and shout it out to the heavens declare the joy of the Lord over you! For he is singing over you with shouts of joy!!


Joy

Psalm 21

What does it mean have Joy? This psalm gives two examples of joy:
1/ v1; “joy in victories”
2/ v6; “joy in His presence”

What joy there is in perseverance! Consider v3. “You came to greet him with rich blessings, and put a crown of gold on his head” – Did Jesus not say in his letters to the churches several times, “To him who overcomes, he will give the fruit of the tree of life?!!” What a forsight King David is rejoicing in here! Living in victory we receive the promises of the “Most High”!

The biggest hinderences, as we looked at before his believing the lies of the enemy, or sin of saying to ourselves “God I don’t need you” or even worse “God you’re not real!” — How would you feel if someone said to you indirectly, Ÿou’re not real! you’d feel pretty deflated eh?

Hebrews says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, ’cause anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists” er… kinda obvious really isn’t it!!!

v7 sums up this psalm of david for me: King David trusts in the unfailing love of the most high God!

Consider why King David is refering to God as ‘Most High’?
Who is most high in your life? How does that effect our joy?
How much more do we need to know God’s unfailing love for us?
How much more will that compel us to live in joy both in knowing we can be victorious and in his presence?