June 8, 2025

Key to Joy

Yesterday was exhausting yet a total delight. The quilt guild I belong to held their show of over 200 incredible quilts, with venders, door prizes, a featured quilter, a memorial booth honoring those who have died, and the community outreach booth where I served for a couple hours. This is the division that receives donated materials and makes quilts for needy people.

In my first trip around the space (a well-lit curling rink) I met dozens of people that I’ve not seen for months, even years. We had joyful conversations and that alone was the most obvious reason that the Lord prompted me to attend and to serve in a small way. I thank Him for such a blessed experience.

Interesting that today’s devotional reading is about His zeal — He wants me to serve Him in gladness. John Piper says it and quotes examples from the Bible. One of them is a surprise. I have read it many times and didn’t realize the impact…

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. (Deuteronomy 28:47–48)
This is loaded with meaning. Serving the Lord involves being filled with His Spirit. Many other passages verify that I cannot do the will of God unless I am abiding in Him and unless He is filling me with what I need to do it. Also, the fruit of the Spirit is joy — the indicator of being filled. I keep saying that if that joy is not there, I’ve taken over the control of my life. Joy is the mark of being Spirit-filled. The above verses tell the results… if I’m not joyful in serving God then I am serving something else. Not only that, without the blessing of the Holy Spirit, my life will be empty and my efforts for whatever I am doing will wear me out.

All of this is reflected in the words of Jesus. He calls those who fall away into joyless and tiresome work:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)
Of course the yoke is easy for when I take it. Joy comes with the burdens that God gives. I recall one time walking and praying and complaining about my responsibilities. I was feeling heavily laden and not happy about it. As I grumbled, the Lord whispered to me: “Get out of My to-do list” — and I burst out laughing. His words released me and instantly restored my joy.

This is not about being happy. Circumstances may not change and happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is different, supernatural. It is released from a trusting heart by the Spirit of God who lives there, regardless of the circumstances. Why is that so? In a passage about using spiritual gifts, the NT explains why:
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10–11)
PRAY: Oh Lord, You are amazing. No other master, boss, god, or even my own self can rule my life and include joy as the main indicator that I’m serving the right or the best way — only You. Yesterday I went to the show because You put it on my heart to go, to serve, and it was a day of incredible joy in talking with others. The quilts were spectacular, yet that joy came from You and it involved serving people. My body became very tired in all the activity, but You made my heart sing. Thank You for the joy You give! 




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