It seems like so many things try to steal our joy these days. 40 degrees and gray skies top my list. We could also add boarded up stores, social distancing, loss of income, inability to spend time with loved ones etc. But joy is a result of believing, not an uncontrollable outcome. Joy is rooted in trusting who God is and His Promises. It is not fleeting or based on circumstances. Worldly possessions, accomplishments, even the people in our lives, are blessings that make us happy and fuel joyfulness. However, the Bible teaches that the source of all joy is believing in Jesus and confidence in His promises.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13
I looked these words up in the original Greek.
Hope: to anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation, confidence, faith
Fill: literally to cram, satisfy, accomplish, perfect supply
All: all forms, whole, always
Joy: cheerfulness that I calm, delight, gladness, exceedingly, greatly
Peace: prosperity, quietness and rest
In: rest
Believing: having faith, entrust your spiritual well being in Christ
Abound: to be in excess, to cause to excel, abundant in the better, enough to spare
I love to take the Greek definitions of the specific words and incorporate them into the verse to bring the Word deeper into my spirit.
God, You are my Lord of hope. I anticipate, expect, and have confidence that You will cram me with the perfect supply of all forms of gladness and delight along with prosperity and quietness as I rest in and entrust You with my spiritual well being. As I do this I will have abundance, and enough to share, of pleasure, expectation, confidence and faith through the power and mighty work of the Holy Spirit.
That’s a great Promise to stand on right there! Fill me up Lord. I receive it.