Joy

​It’s missing in so many churches today and in so many lives of believers, but it is not missing in the Bible.  I’m talking about joy and there is an abundance of it in the Bible.  It is seen in the Old Testament as Nehemiah declares, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” It is seen in the life of Jesus Himself as He told the disciples, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full.”
 
In the book of Philippians we see that joy has nothing to do with circumstances, but everything to do with Christ.    Joy is a permanent contentment in spite of circumstances.   Consider the fact that as Paul writes this letter that is all about joy, he is a prisoner in a Roman dungeon.  Obviously, Paul’s joy was not based on circumstances.  The second attribute of joy we see in the book of Philippians is that joy is not a matter of action, but rather a matter of attitude.  The third most used word in the book of Philippians is the word “mind” which Paul used 10 times.  He then uses the word “think” 5 additional times.  You see, the secret of Christian joy is found in the way a believer thinks – his attitudes”