What is the Source of Your Joy?

What is the source of your joy? Is it purchasing new things, money, being pampered or cherished? Is it a certain person, home, automobile, sin, popularity, position, or relationships? There are so many things people chase after in a vain pursuit of pleasure and happiness. When their goal is achieved, they are left unsatisfied and depressed because they've lost hope in the illusion of their fulfillment being directly attached to an inanimate object, person or by achieving a goal. If for a fleeting moment, they do experience happiness from anything but God, it is swiftly lost when the source is removed.

There is no comparison between the joy that is experienced through the deep security, peace and calm that comes from seeking and having an intimate, faith-filled relationship with Christ or temporal happiness that is associated with people, experiences or things that can easily be removed, leaving you devastated and empty. God is immovable and if He is truly the source of your joy, it can't be shaken or destroyed.

When I'm devastated due to circumstances or how I've been treated by others, I go to God and ask Him to reveal why I'm reacting the way I am. He is the great I Am which means He is everything to me! He should be our fulfilment in every way. When unfortified areas are revealed to us we must crucify our flesh and ask God to fill the places we've allowed other things to occupy and control. He desires to be the only source of our fulfilment and as we give Him first place, true inner peace and joy will follow. Once you've received it, you'll realize that man didn't give it to you and they will have no power to take it away. Opposition and disappointment will only serve to catapult you deeper into the throne room of God. That will reveal more of His strength and stability in your life. Soon your purpose will be revealed and seeking and serving Him will be your greatest joy!!!

Colossians 3:1-8 (TLB) Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories. Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you; have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger is upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world; but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.

Exodus 3:14 (KJV) "And God said to Moses, “I Am WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’"