Dearly beloved, according to Philippians 4:4, may the Lord bless you with His joy. Here, St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!” The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and the Lord will give you the desires of your heart." When we have the Lord's presence with us, we will have pleasure in everything we do. The key is to have the presence of God in our midst. The Bible tells us, "In His presence there is fullness of joy." The world longs to have joy and pleasure. So, they run here and there seeking pleasure, often looking to others for it, but these sources are only short-lived. They come and go like waves hitting the shore. But, having joy in the Lord is a lifetime supply.   

In John 16:24, God says, "Until now you have not asked the Father for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete." The joy that the Lord gives is complete. We need not long for this joy. The Lord Himself supplies this joy into our souls more than we need. Most of all, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that is, being full of the Lord, we will have glorious joy. As in I Peter 1:8, the Bible says, "In Christ, every child of God is filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." So, we are filled with this inexpressible joy. I remember when I was filled with the Holy Spirit and asked to come to the front and testify, I was not able to express the immense joy I was experiencing to others. The Lord filled me with such deep and overflowing joy, and I was delighting in Him. I could not even utter a word. I was sobbing and crying, thinking about the Lord's joy. Dear friend, God is full of joy, and He rejoices over us with the fullness of His love. Because of His love, we have joy in our hearts in full measure. 

Another way to experience joy is by studying the word of God, which brings immense joy into our hearts. David mentioned in Psalm 19:8, "The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart." God's word is filled with life and joy. Of course, it condemns us when we sin against God. But, when we are obedient to God and His commands, God gives us a word for the future, filling our hearts with great joy. This is what the Lord Jesus says in John 15:10, "If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love." He also says in the next verse, "I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing." The word of God indeed brings us a great deal of joy, causing our hearts to bubble with joy. Proverbs 17:22 states, "A joyful heart is good medicine." The word of God heals our hearts and bodies and brings happiness at all times. My friend, may you always have a joyful heart. May your heart always leap for joy. Keep God's word in your heart all the time. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

PRAYER: 
Precious Lord, I am grateful that You desire to see me joyful. Only You can provide the joy, peace, and satisfaction that I yearn for. I confess that I have been seeking contentment and fulfillment in worldly things and people, but none of them can give me the deep sense of peace I long for. Today, I come before You, seeking Your presence in my life. Thank You for always being with me. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can be full of You, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy. Also, grant me the grace and understanding to meditate on Your living and active Word, which can make my heart leap with Your glorious joy. Let me never be bogged down by the concerns and troubles of this world, but let me find strength, hope, eternal pleasures and joy in You, always. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.