Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

The last re-centering wisdom nugget is about focusing on joy to endure.

Today’s scripture, John 15:9-11 NLT
[9] “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. [10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. [11] I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Consider…
The theme of re-centering I have been writing about is getting our thoughts and actions back on track with Golld’s will and way. Said another way, re-centering is realigning ourselves with God’s purpose and plan.

This makes me think of Jesus’ prayer before fulfilling his purpose for coming, shared in Luke 22:42 (ERV)…
[42] “Father, if you are willing, please don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.”

While that familiar scripture reveals the agony and submission of our Lord and Savior, it doesn’t show us the key enduring suffering.

Hebrews 12:2 (ERV) tells us…
[2] We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.

Notice, we’re told to look at Jesus’ example for endurance, which was focusing on the joy awaiting him.

That brings James 1:2-4 (NLT) to mind…
[2] Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. [3] For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Notice the Apostle says the testing of our faith and development of our endurance is buoyed by our hope for great joy.

The strength for endurance is found in the joy of the LORD!

That pressed play on Maverick City singing…

I’m pulling on joy from Heaven’s reserve
He’s stored up enough, for every winter I’m served
I’m seeing beyond my circumstance
This joy that I have is my Inheritance
Joy, this is the joy of the Lord

[Chorus]
The chorus says, the joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy, oh, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Oh-oh-oh, He is my hope (Yes, He is)
The joy, the joy
The joy of the Lord is my strength

While the chorus repeats in my mind, the Holy Spirit leads me to Nehemiah 8:8-10 (NLT) for context of seeing the joy of the LORD as our strength…
[8] They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. [9] Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. [10] And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our LORD. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Reading this makes me wonder if we’re convicted when hearing God’s word? I mean, Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT) declares…
[12] For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

No wonder the people in the Nehemiah passage were weeping during the reading of God’s word. But pay attention to how the passage ended…

Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!

This helps me see that even when our faulty humanity is on display, we can forge ahead because in God’s strength.

That probably brings the favorite verse for many Christians to mind. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)…
[13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Something precious about this favorite verse, is that follows Paul’s testimony and explanation of supernatural contentment.

This is a good place to point out that in the Bible, joy is a profound, deep-seated contentment and gladnes that is a gift from the Holy Spirit and is independent of one’s circumstances.

Speaking of the ‘JOY’ being a gift from the Holy Spirit, it’s abundantly clear that it’s extremely important to God, as evidenced by being the second fruit of the Spirit produced.

Notice ‘JOY’ is sandwiched between love and peace. It’s my belief that the Holy Spirit’s order of fruit is intentional, and meant to develop our divine transformation…

• Established by His Love
• Inspired by His Joy
• Secure in His Peace

It’s not a coincidence that before God wants us to exhibit…

• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self control

…to others like He does, He wants us to be full of the main fruit that makes Him appetizingly tasty.

That runs my mind to the Psalms 34:8 (NLT)
invitation…
[8] Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

As I pasted that, the Holy Spirit highlighted that ‘JOY’ once again is cited as existing in the LORD’s presence.

That brings us back to Jesus in today’s scripture wanting us to have overflowing joy that comes from Him via obedience, which hit play on Yolanda Adams singing…

Somethin’ deep inside that makes me smile
When otherwise I would cry in hopeless wonder, ’cause I have no peace inside
Joy lifts me up and takes me through, it’s so real, I’m tellin’ you
So many trails I’ve endured, God has given me the cure

I have a joy, a joy that’s unspeakable
It soothes my doubts when the way gets hard
Although I lived in sin, He cleansed my heart that he lives within
And saved my soul from a burnin’ hell, Christ lives in me now

This joy that I have (no, the world didn’t give this joy to me)
This joy that I have (and this world can’t take it away)
This joy that I have (the world didn’t give it to me, no, no, no)
This joy that I have (the world didn’t give in)

Our loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to live as the obedient children our Heavenly Father desires, buoyed by His joy.

In fact, when we get off track, we can hit play on Richard Smallwood’s testimony…

Jesus, You’re the centre of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You
You’re the heart of my contentment
Hope for all I do
Jesus, You’re the centre of my joy

When I’ve lost my direction
You’re the compass for my way
You’re the fire and light
When nights are long and cold
In sadness, You are the laughter
That shadows all my fears
When am all alone, Your hand is there to hold, oh

Jesus, You’re the centre of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You
You’re the heart of my contentment
Hope for all I do
Jesus, You’re the centre of my joy

So as you encounter trying times, situations and circumstances, pause and re-center your thoughts on Jesus and find strength in Him, your Joy!

The Holy left me with this last acrostic to remember strengthening JOY in the midst of our weakness.

• Jesus‘ strength to
• Obey, regardless of the costs,
• Yaweh, His way.

Jesus says share in His overflowing JOY found in obedience.

Today’s song is…
My Joy

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)