Joy

This week I had the pleasure of sharing the devotional for our monthly President’s Briefing at Pepperdine University. I believe the message can be an encouragement and blessing to others which is why I’m sharing it on my blog…..Enjoy!

President’s Briefing

December 7, 2022

Devotion on Joy by MaShani Allen

Last week in my freshman seminar class The Power of the Pen for Self-Discovery we had a lively discussion based on the following statement, Is happiness a choice? And do you choose happiness while you’re going through a trial or after? I listened intently as student after student chimed in. I then shared that I believe it's both. You choose happiness while going through and after. For some situations, if you don't choose happiness while going through you may not get to after. I feel this same sentiment when it comes to joy because joy is greater than happiness. Many see them as the same but they are distinctively different. I believe the following lyric found in a British Chorus explains it perfectly, Happiness happens, but joy abides.

Joy is an inner gladness; a deep-seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. Joy is a part of God’s very essence.

Over the years the announcement of children has become more popular and creative, from actual buns in the oven to fake peas in pods, sharing this news has truly brought tremendous joy. But do you realize every year for over 2000 years we have the blessing of being reminded of the greatest birth announcement known in history? This announcement wasn’t just for those during that time but it is for us now and for generations to come.

What’s so beautiful is God Himself planned this shower and the backdrop He used was Joy. We see this in Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill[e] toward men!”

To Date NOTHING has come close to this birth announcement!!

The opportunity we have year after year to celebrate Christmas is a blessing that allows us to honor, remember and praise God for the greatest and purest gift of joy to the world, Jesus. Jesus brought and continually brings Joy.

As a child I grew up learning a song from the Georgia Mass Choir and the lyrics were:

Joy, joy, God's great joy.
Joy, joy, down in my soul;
sweet, beautiful, soul-saving joy,
oh, joy, joy in my soul.

In John 15:11 Jesus is speaking and says, I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

Jesus is Joy Expressed Sovereignly Unto Souls

Warren Wiersbe defines joy as "that inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances.

For the one whose soul is hurting from the weight of grief and pain, O Come, know that joy truly is a promise that you can embrace again.

For the one who feels so far away and distant from God’s love, O Come, may joy overtake you and embrace you like a glove.

For the one whose vision has voids and loss of hope and sight, O Come, may joy fill those spaces and bring you great delight.

For the one who's full of questions that seem to never end, O Come,

May Joy be an answer to calm the storm within.

Joy, Gods joy is available to all of us, the question is, will you receive it? Will you allow God to deposit His great joy in your heart? Will you embrace the gift so freely given to you? Will you allow His joy to be full in you?

As we enter this holiday season I pray and declare to all of us, our scripture for this year Romans 15:13 from the Amplified Version

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.

And remember Jesus is Joy Expressed Sovereignly Unto Souls.