Salvation Summaries

This morning it is cold, rainy, overcast and I’m tired.  I have a meeting in Denver this morning that I haven’t even begun to prepare for.  I’ve worked extra hours over the past week to finish an overdue project that took way too much time, and I have a few other overdue ones that simply must get done soon.  It’s not a morning where I have any joy, even though I could use some.

How and Why we should be Joyful

As as introvert, joy does not come easily to me, but it should. We have many things to be joyful for; we simply don’t take the time to think about them.

In my quest for a shot of espresso joy this morning,  I quickly did a search for the word “joy” and skimmed through a few dozen verses in the Psalms and New Testament to determine what should give us joy.  Here’s what I found:

• God is the source of our joy and delight
• We should have joy over God’s works
• God can fill our heart with joy
• We can have joy from being in God’s presence
• Jesus can give us joy

• God’s word can give us joy (its truths and how they affect our soul)
• Hearing the message of salvation should give us joy
• Believing in God should give us joy

• The HS within us (Christians) should give us joy
• Hearing of others walking in the truth and faith should give us joy

Fellow believers. Joy is at our finger tips; we only need to stop what we’re doing, reach for it and take it.

“Father, forgive me for failing to be joyful. 

I praise you for Who You are. I praise You for Your works. I praise You for Your word.  I praise You for the free gift of salvation You have given us through Your Son. 

Fill me today with the joy of Your presence.  Fill me with the joy of learning something new from Your word.  Fill me with joy from Your Holy Spirit within me. 

Thank you for the work of salvation You have done in a number of my family members, and in me.  Help me to dwell on the beauty of this, and how thankful we all should be for it. You are so gracious, loving and kind.

May my thoughts and deeds today be pleasing unto You.

Amen.” 

Verses

• Psalm 4:6-8   ⁶ Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.  ⁷ You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  ⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
• Psalm 16:11   ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
• Psalm 19:8   ⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
• Psalm 43:4   ⁴ Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
•  Psalm 92:4-5   ⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  ⁵ How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
•  Psalm 94:19   ¹⁹ When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
•  Matthew 13:20   ²⁰ The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
•  Matthew 13:44   ⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
•  Mark 4:16-17   ¹⁶ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  ¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
•  Luke 2:10-11   ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
•  John 17:13-16   ¹³ “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
•  Acts 14:17   ¹⁷ Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
•  Acts 16:34   ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God– he and his whole family.
•  Romans 15:13   ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
•  Galatians 5:22-23   ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
•  1 Peter 1:8-9   ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  ⁹ for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
•  3 John 1:4   ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.