BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 1 January 2025 – SPECIAL EDITION – WORD OF THE YEAR - JOY

BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 1 January 2025 – SPECIAL EDITION – WORD OF THE YEAR - JOY

 

SPECIAL EDITION – WORD OF THE YEAR - JOY

 

Ya know what? I had no idea there were so many references to JOY in the Bible! Shouldn’t surprise, though. I mean, Father God IS the author of JOY!! Bible Gateway lists a whopping 192 NLKV verses with the word JOY!!!

 

It begins in the Old Testament.

 

I’ll begin with one of my life Scriptures, Nehemiah 8:10, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.”

The Oxford Dictionary defines JOY as, noun, a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

 

The JOY of the Lord, though, is more. It is a sustaining gift that we can cling to, even in the darkest storm. It’s not a naïve Pollyanna feeling. Like love and forgiveness and trust, we choose JOY.

 

JOY is not the opposite of sadness. It is what sustains us through sadness and anger and hurt. JOY is a bedrock on which we can stand, abide. JOY is His, and His JOY is our strength.

 

At this time of year, it is only fitting to also share Luke 2:10-11, “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great JOY which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

 

And another well-known couple of verses, Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

We simply cannot separate JOY from who God is. And, as we live and move and have our being in Him (Acts 17:29) so, too, we cannot—or should not—separate JOY from who we are.

Is it easy? Sometimes yes, sometimes not so much. But it’s who we are as much as our faith and trust. Well, and the rest of the fruit that is His.

 

In the coming year, cling to Nehemiah 8:10. Know that He is your strength and your JOY. And “eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared.”

 

And have a blessed and happy and JOYFUL new year.

#Blogwords, Special Edition, Word of the Year, JOY, Nehemiah 8:10, Luke 2:10-11, Galatians 5:22-23, Acts 17:29, Happy New Year