September 29.
Delightfully High Spirited

1 John 1:4

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John says, “I am writing for your promotion. I am promoting your joy.” If you don’t read the book for any other reason, you ought to read it for the fact that you finally found somebody that’s promoting joy, especially in light of the fact that most folk like to come around and demote you. Have you ever had any joy snatchers that won’t let you be happy? You do your best to try all you can to be happy and they can’t wait to steal away your joy. They will call you on the phone and make you miserable. They find somebody that you love and talk them down. They talk about your children; they talk about your daddy and your mother – anybody they can talk about to steal your joy. And if they can’t get it that way they just hang around you and look sad.

That your joy may be full. You see sometimes you get just a little touch of joy, but before you know it, it’s gone. Psalm 100 tells us that when you’re saved, not only do you have joy, but you also go around making joy. We are to worship the Lord with joyful singing and bless His name for His goodness and His mercy. Enter in with thanksgiving and go into his court with praise. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. James 1:2 tells me to count it joy when I’m down and when I’m broke. When I’ve got enemies all around me, count it joy. When it doesn’t look good in my life count it joy. Count it all joy when trials and temptation are all around. Why? The reason you can have joy is because you know something. When you’re laughing and being joyful, other folk frowning won’t be able to take away your joy. Your laughter is more powerful than their grumpiness. The world didn’t give me this joy that I have and the world can’t take it away. You don’t know like I know what the Lord has done for me.