Bible Study - Joy of the Lord

The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.  A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.  Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness.  The expression or manifestation of such feeling.  These are all definitions of joy.  Psalms 28: 7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." "You turned my waling into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,"  Psalms 30: 11.  When we trust God, lean on him in our life we began to have joy.  We are thankful for what has been given.  Joy is a response to what God has done for us.  An example is in Isaiah 51: 11 "Those the Lord has rescued will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, sorrow and sighing will flee away."  I know it is hard to find joy in the every day.  It's hard to be joyful.  Even just to find the positive.  We put these masks on and walk around like its okay when it's not.  When can we realize that God has so much for us.  He has given us tons of things to be thankful for.  Little do we know, but joy is a weapon for Christ.  Nehemiah 8: 10 "Nehemiah said,'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is holy to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"  The part I want you to catch is that last sentence.  Joy, the joy of the Lord is strength!  Remember the definitions of joy in the beginning?  If we can have that attitude how awesome would life be!  Let the joy of the Lord run free and see all that God has for you.