Too often I have looked upon joy as one of God’s special treats, one that delights me but also surprises me. I should not be surprised. I am commanded to be joyful: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4, NSRB). Bible commands are always God’s enablements; if I am commanded to rejoice, I can rejoice, regardless of circumstances.
I must realize that I can control my feelings far more than I think I can. The little boy who said, “I’d druther be mad,” was admitting that he could control his emotions. Possibly with the exception of organic difficulties, our feelings are controllable if we put on the right dress of mind. In other words, God holds me responsible for the kind of thinking that enables me to rejoice.
Jesus said, “That my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11, ASV). Jesus Christ was the most optimistic, confident, radiant Person the world ever saw. Can we imagine Him now being worried, harried, or depressed? If He is released to be free in us, joy will always result, for Jesus is the personal expression of joy. It is impossible for me to think of all that Christ has done for me, all that He is to me, and all that He has promised to do for me without feeling joy.
I am joyless only when I set my mind on my surrounding circumstances and/or set my mind on myself and begin to pity myself. The opposite of that is to keep Jesus Christ alive in my mind. Billy Bray called his left foot “glory” and his right one “hallelujah” so that as he walked it was “Glory, Hallelujah!” I also will walk in joy if I keep Christ in the center of my heart and my mind.
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart” (Psalm 32:11).
Daily with the King 