How to maintain the joy of the Lord in your heart (1)

The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. (Joel 1:12 KJV)

If living a victorious, ever-winning Christian life is your desire, you must understand that joy is an indispensable virtue in actualising this desire.

In our opening text, we see that the reason why things went awry, was because joy is withered away from the sons of men. That means if we don't want things to go awry for us, we must know how to maintain a joyful attitude all the time.

But why is joy so important?

1. You become weak without joy. "... for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV).

The absence of joy in your heart will make you weak spiritually, physically and emotionally. This is why some folks fall cheaply into depression. The joy of the Lord keeps you filled with strength and vigor always.

2. You can't gain access to revelations without joy. Isaiah 12:3 KJV says, "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells if salvation." (emphasis mine).

It takes a joyful attitude to progressively know and understand all that is yours through salvation in Christ Jesus. No joy, no access!

3. Joy is a requirement for your Kingdom stewardship to be acceptable.

"Because  thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things. (Deuteronomy 28:47 KJV).

God demans that our acts of service for the furtherance of His work be done joyfully, not grudgingly. That is how we can be rewarded for our labour.

4. Your health is at risk without joy. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Proverbs 17:22 KJV).

One of the keys to divine healing and divine health is maintaining the joy of the Lord in your heart always.

To be continued...