PUTTING ON JOY

Overcoming discouragement is an ever-present obstacle for all people. I don’t believe there’s a human in the world that doesn’t experience ups and downs in life. They would not be human! 

No one signs up for the rollercoaster, yet we all take the ride from time to time, and one way I’ve been growing in the process of dealing with the discouragements and frustrations is pursuing the joy of the Lord.

Nehemiah 8:10 ends the verse with the oft quoted statement “The joy of the Lord is your strength”. I was praying through the armor of God one afternoon as I was driving to visit my family  and watch the super bowl with them. As I was praying for the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit, I just started asking for joy as well. 

Now, as you’re probably aware, there’s not a piece of armor that is the joy of the Lord! (I’m as surprised as you are!) But it says in Nehemiah 8:10 that the Joy of the Lord is my strength.

I was thinking to myself, if that’s true, it would be way better to carry the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith if I had the joy of the Lord to give me His strength! So, now, as I put on the armor of God, I ask for his strength to help me carry these pieces of armor. This way the battle stays with the Lord and doesn’t get confused in my own ways. 

Almost like gloves to protect my hands as I carry things, I want to wear His joy so it will make my burden so much less. In fact, joy is such a contrast to burden! If His joy is my strength, then the more I seek Him and His joy, the easier my battles will be. 

What delights the Lord? Seeking Him. Talking to Him. Partnering with Him. Seeing what He’s doing. Asking Him. It’s both profound and simple. Most of the time, it is in fact really simple. Seek Him first.

If His joy will give me strength, I have to have His joy. If His joy gives me strength then I can carry the shield of faith into the battle so much better. I can wield the sword of the Spirit more confidently and more powerfully. With His joy, I become more and more of an overcomer! Isn’t this the very reason we put on the Armor of God? Ephesians 6:10-11 says …Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

So, as I pursue my Father and His will daily, I walk with His armor and with His joy.