“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)
“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT)
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NLT)
The second fruit of the Spirit listed is joy. Joy is a fruit that gets better with age. It overcomes sadness, depression, anxiety, and any other emotionally draining mental issue I may be facing. Joy is also a key element in maintaining physical strength.
Look at what Isaiah said about the power of joy, “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV) This shows us the emotional strength of joy.
Look what the writer of Proverbs said, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 BSB) This shows us the physical strength of joy.
When I was meditating on Proverbs 3:1-2 (“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you”), seeking the Lord’s perspective on longevity and aging, He spoke to my heart that the strength provided by joy is the key to experiencing “length of days.”
Once again, the way to experience the fruit is not so much to chase after the fruit, as it is to develop a deeper relationship with the fruit giver (the Holy Spirit). As in all Kingdom principles, as I seek first the Kingdom, the joy of the Lord will be added to me. And the quickest way for me to experience joy is to give joy away to those around me. As I give away joy it will be given to me in overflowing measure. This overflowing joy gives me strength for today and works together with youth and peace to unlock the Lord’s desire for me to live a long, strong life worth living with nothing missing or broken.
That is why I am excited about…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 43: “I am a Fruit Grower in the Kingdom of Heaven (quality fruit to give away).” Part 3: Joy