Want some good news...like about Joy?

9 hours ago

5 min read

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1fba5193/want-some-good-news-like-about-joy-john-no-18

This past Sunday I had the privilege of speaking in a historic Congregational church outside of Boston. How I love the people in this beautiful church in Rowley! My message was about sharing our faith with others; the fact is, people are desperate to find hope, meaning and purpose--all of which flow from the matchless love of God. How to do it?

Start spiritual conversations--I mentioned recently. While I am not a master of it, I guess I have started many spiritual conversations with various people in numerous settings and places all over the world.

Take this conversation I had on a clear and very cold morning in Flagstaff, Arizona, as I stepped up to order coffee in the old Monte Vista Hotel. Standing next to me was a young man, maybe 28 years of age, wearing skin tight black jeans, a flashy leather jacket, mirrored glasses and a decorative white fur scarf, with head phones in and credit card poised to pay for his coffee. 'Good Morning,' I said to him, 'what are you listening to?' 'Princess Nokia . . . time to turn off her aggressive stuff,' he said, reaching to make a change on his phone. 'Can I ask you a question?' 'Yes, of course,' he kindly answered. [Referencing the topic about which I was writing, I asked him the question uppermost in my mind]

'Do you think it is possible that having joy is a choice?' He stood there a moment, and said, 'yeah, I guess it is. I mean, I can choose to think good thoughts that make me happy or focus on the negative or pessimistic and feel that way...huh.' And he stared off a moment, thinking about it.

Was he right? Is that really how we choose Joy? Simply focusing on the positive, ignoring the negative? Hmmm... There is far more to it.

Even in the midst of rough water, I have found truths that enable me to think positively and to rest assured, trusting in what I know about God.

Ready?

>God is good

>God does good

>Nothing that comes my way catches God off guard

>God is always at work... why, we just looked at Jesus' words in John chapter five,

when he said, "My Father is always working, and so am I."1

>And though my heart may ache at times, my Joy has not been robbed,

because I really do trust God.'

Step a little closer, please. Regularly, I recall A.W. Tozer's statement that what I believe about God is the most important thing about me.2 What's more is that what I believe about God determines almost everything about me, and most certainly my Joy !

Flying home from Boston, I met a young dad and his daughter going through security. After a few words were exchanged, he asked me why I was in Boston. Of course, he was surprised to hear that I had gone to preach... which then enabled me to ask about him, and if he is a man of faith. After explaining as with many from Mass, (echusetts), he grew up Catholic, which is what shaped his early faith, he then talked a little about choices he has then made as an adult, concluding with, 'I can't believe I am meeting you right now.' (as he is in a tough season right now) These conversations could not be any more rich or interesting.

And that begs the question,

'Friend, who shaped your view of God?

Stop and think about that a moment.

Personally, I was raised mostly in a Protestant church, and grew up reading and learning Scripture--from my mom, Sunday School and then my Christian high school. These helped form my understanding of God until I got into college. At that time, I began writing in a journal, asking questions about God and questions of God because I was on a quest to know God more intimately for myself. In all of the years since, I have had a growing relationship with Him, always active in church and various means of personal discipleship. [Did you ever do the Strengths Finder test? My number one strength is Learner, followed by Intellection...constantly wanting to challenge my thinking, I am.]3

So hey, why talk about God with regard to choosing Joy ? Our level of inner Joy and contentment is based on knowing we have been created by a benevolent, almighty God who made us in his image for relationship with him. And in that relationship, there is true Joy - and only in relationship with him. Hence this expression from the psalmist:

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of Joy ;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. 4

In his presence . . . joy! Learning from Scripture, especially as it describes who God is, what are his great and magnificent plans, and learning from others too about what relationship with God looks like, it all makes sense. Indeed there is an almighty, all-loving, omniscient God who we can know and live with forever, because of Jesus Christ and his life and death for us. But Jesus does not force himself on anyone; each of us must choose. If we choose to follow him, we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

And with the Holy Spirit comes joy! As Paul explained, joy is one of the evidences that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in us.5 On a personal note: when I pray in the morning, I ask God to forgive me of my sins, fill me anew with his spirit, and produce in me love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. So in that way, Flagstaff guy was right. I am choosing to cooperate with God's presence in my life, desiring what he wants for me--love, Joy , peace, etc. But I am not doing this on my own, as a dint of my own will; no, instead, I am walking with God, seeking to obey him, heed his guidance and blessing in producing these things in my life--and since we are talking about it right now---namely, Joy!

Since joy is linked with the heart of God, it makes complete sense that when we choose Him and His spirit is in us, we choose Joy! So then, this is my prayer for you:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all

Joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you will overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 6 Paul's powerful prayer for the Roman Christians

"Just that Good," Kristian Stanfill, Passion, Cain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY9Jm-Jd994&list=RDWY9Jm-Jd994&start_radio=1

Choose joy!

Christine

John, no.18

1 - John 5.17

2 - The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer

3 - Clifton Strengths Finder - https://testlibrary.com/strengths-finder-test/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_