We pursue many things in life. We look for happiness, fulfillment, peace,
and meaning. At some point in life we
ask ourselves the questions, “What is life all about?”, “What will make me happy,
fulfilled, and peaceful?” Each of us
will follow different paths as we search for answers. At times the answers are clear for the moment
but are only temporary in duration; a new car, success in an endeavor, a sought
after relationship, etc. Things and
circumstances can make us happy.
In my journey through the years I have come to realize that
external happiness and internal joy are not the same thing. No one is happy all of the time. In Galatians 5:22, joy is listed as the
second Fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a
product of God’s Holy Spirit, not a product of the natural mind. Joy is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit
of God.
In Psalm 16:11 David speaks to God saying, “You will show me
the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore”. Joy as described
in the Bible cannot be separated from our relationship with God. I sought God and I continually seek a closer
relationship with Him. I have received
the gift of faith and the promise of eternal life with Christ. I know where I will spend eternity and I know
that God’s hand is upon me and guiding me in this life. Peace and joy are external signs of having
found this internal purpose and reason for being.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 tells believers that even in affliction
we posses the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit. We
can remain supernaturally joyful even in the midst of pain, trial, and
suffering. Even if we are not happy in
times of difficulty we still posses the Holy Spirit’s internal joy. This joy does not diminish because of
external circumstances. It is Christ’s
light in us that can be seen by others who observe us and see how we react to
the ups and downs of life. Those who do
not know God cannot understand the peace and joy which I am trying to describe.
John 3:16 tells us that it is available to everyone. Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7 tell us that
when we seek we will find. God wants us
to seek Him. You have everything to gain
and nothing to loose by doing so. He is
real. He will convict your heart. He wants us to come to Him in an attitude of
repentance. He has the gift of faith
waiting for each of us to accept and receive.
He wants us to be filled with His Holy Spirit and to receive His Gifts
of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.
Coming to faith and growing in faith is a process. Never stop seeking. Never stop praying. Never stop listening. Never stop learning His Word and His
promises. Never stop seeking a closer
walk with the Father, through the Son, empowered by His Holy Spirit. Never stop growing in the gifts of the Holy
Spirit. May the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
be manifested in each of us so that God’s light would shine through us into the
lives of others prompting them to seek what we have found.
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