Texts for Tonight | Joy

Texts for Tonight | Joy

These Scriptures were part of my morning read a couple days ago. I feel like I’m the last one to testify about joy right now, unless joy is understood at a deeper level.

All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy…
for all who follow my ways are joyful…
Joyful are those who listen to me
Psalm 22.26; Proverbs 8.32,34, NLT

Dante Bowe
Joyful

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These Scripture Texts link joy with strength:

• 1 Chronicles 16.27: Honour and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. (NRSV)
• Nehemiah 8.10: Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
• Psalm 81.1: Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
• Colossians 1.11: May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully

Is joy more than an emotion?

Is it a core drive like tenacity or strength?
Instead of a surface level emotion, is strength/joy more like a moving undercurrent of the soul?

Here I am posting Scripture Texts about joy. Lord knows that humanly speaking, joy seems hard to grasp right now. Or maybe joy is part of what it feels like to be more fully human.

How am I meant to live right now?

Am I to deprive myself of joy or allow it to strengthen me?

What if I will give an account to our Lord for failing to live the abundant life? Am I bound to live and be all He desires of me? Can I do so in joy?

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