Until Morning Comes
Joy is a fruit of the spirit – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
Joy is a constant, deep happiness that comes from confidence exercised and dependent on God and not dependent on the circumstances or situations we may find ourselves facing. (my definition after looking at many)
A Crushed Spirit = Crushed Joy
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
What circumstances attempt to crush the spirit?
Hurt, anger, death, grief, sickness, exhaustion
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse (Mean, contradictory, bad, difficult) tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
How can we replace a crushed spirit with joy?
- Hope brings joy
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
The hope of the righteous brings joy, Proverbs 10:28
2. Praise brings joy
* Praise always, not just when we feel like it (Choose a priority of praise)
Rejoice always, 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart
Leaps for joy and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:7
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
KEEP PRAISING UNTIL MORNING COMES
3. Morning brings Joy
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness Psalm 30:11
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22
Hope + Praise = Morning