-- JOY --

Missionary Pat Bates, Oklahoma

According to Strong’s Concordance, there are 201 references to JOY in some form. To me, that means that it is a very important thing to the Lord. Without JOY, our lives would be so meaningless, so bitter, so weak and so empty.

God gave us JOY for many reasons.

To receive strength: “The JOY of the Lord is my strength.”
To get through the hard things: “I will turn their mourning into JOY.”
To get closer to the Lord: “Enter into the JOY of our Lord.”
To know that God is personal: “He will JOY over you with singing.”
To encourage everyone in church: “Make them JOYFUL in my house of prayer.”
To be free in church: “Make a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord, all you people.”
To read the Bible: “To receive the word with JOY.”
To have a personal relationship with the Lord: “There is JOY in the presence of the Lord.” “In your presence is fullness of JOY.”
To know that you will never be without it: “Your JOY no man can take from you.”
To know that God hears you: “I always pray with JOY.”
To praise the Lord: “Let them praise His name in the dance.” “David brought the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David with rejoicing and he danced before the Lord with all his might.”

The above are just a few reasons that we should seek after, grab hold of, not go an hour without . . . JOY. It is obvious that God has given us JOY as a gift to get us through our lives and bring us close to Him, so . . . LAUGH . . . SING . . . DANCE . . . accept PEACE so others can see God in you!

Your sister,

Pat

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