Op-Ed: Are you filled with God’s joy and peace today?
By Dr. Billy Holland
Do you remember that old song in Vacation Bible School that said, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart? Do you still have it today? I hope you do, because as God’s children we have lots to be joyful about. Be edified as you read I Thessalonians 5:16-18, and Romans 12:12. Humanity has always sought contentment within their souls, but rebellion and a lack of understanding are huge joy crashers. In Hosea 4:6, God’s word declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” and He continues to talk about how the masses reject His truth. What knowledge and what truth? He’s simply talking about knowing who He is and following Him. We notice God uses the word “destroyed” because without knowing about the divine realities of absolute truth, we will not comprehend the danger of living without being born again. Oh sure, people can be moral and even somewhat religious, but many have never experienced a life-changing encounter with the one who created them. On the outside, they might seem content, but within their spirit, they are not developing into the person God wants them to become.
We seldom consider that there is a spiritual war being waged within every individual. It’s the struggle to do what God is saying versus what we want. Basically, when we follow God’s voice, we are filled with jubilation and joy, but when we ignore Him, our conscience becomes distant, dirty, and miserable. Many do not realize how happy they would be if they would surrender their independence and allow God to lead the way. Our passage reveals just how much He loves all people and wants them to understand what the meaning of life really is. He is waiting for someone to ask Him for this knowledge, and He will graciously give it to them as He did with Solomon. There is no limit to how far we can go with God or how close we can be to Him. When we accept a vision of this revelation, we will then decide just how serious we are about personal transformation. Would you rather be your own master and remain depressed and discouraged, or have a heart and mind filled with His joy and hope? Romans 6:16 says, we are servants to whom we obey. Hmmm…
Let’s observe some important steps toward enjoying a life of contentment and well-being. Joy is spiritual strength, is accessible, and is the Christian’s responsibility to maintain. In Nehemiah 8:10 we read, “Then he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah is telling the people to enjoy themselves on this day and be happy as they celebrate being obedient to God. He reminds them that sharing and blessing others is the nature and character of God’s love, and the last part of this verse refers to joy being associated with our ability to stand strong in our faith. These mindsets are to become a vital part of a renewed mind in Christ, and we must fight to maintain them. Several commentaries reveal the original language to be “Delight in Jehovah as a strong refuge or stronghold,” and this brings us peace that passes all understanding.
But how does joy transform into strength, well-being, confidence, and contentment? I think we could sum it up by saying that we cannot be saturated with joy and sin at the same time. We cannot have two masters. Joy and purity go hand in hand, and it goes back to when we were innocent children. Remember feeling secure and how happy we were? Good news! We can have a clear conscience again as adults if walking with God is at the top of our priority list. Read Matthew 18:3. Where do we begin? If becoming pleasing to God is most important, then we must take the reverential fear of God seriously, discipline our mind, become sensitive to His voice, establish an awareness of His presence, and have a passionate determination to place His will above ours. Until the desire to become totally committed to Christ in all things becomes our highest priority, we will continue to live a mediocre life of sadness and dissatisfaction. Yes, it’s possible to live with a clear conscience! Wouldn’t it be exciting to sing, “I’ve got the joy down in my heart today?”
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Learn more about LIVING ON PURPOSE at: billyhollandministries.com.