We don’t just pray because we need something from God.  We pray because we NEED HIM everyday.  Prayer is meant for us to commune with Him anytime of the day and night.  It is to speak to Him and hear Him speak that produces unspeakable JOY in our hearts, do what He has spoken and see it come to pass.  

Make prayer a lifestyle  that when unexpected things come, we know how to respond to situations in the light of His presence.  It is in His presence that we find FULLNESS OF JOY and when we have the JOY of the Lord, then we have the strength to persevere.

I used to wonder why is it called the JOY OF THE LORD?

“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!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

JOY is not in the five senses of our being but happiness is.  Happiness is based on the happenings around us.  When things go according to how we expect it to be, then we are happy.   But JOY is a heavenly atmosphere exclusively found in the presence of God.  JOY is pure and uncontaminated.  His presence produces joy without mixture.  That means whatever is happening around us, JOY stays constant, stable and unfaltered within us when our awareness is set like flint into His indwelling presence in our innermost being and personality.  It keeps us steady and strong.   It is like an anchor that is a heavy object attached to a rope or chain used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom which restricts the vessel’s movement and keeps it firmly in place.

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 14:17).  Therefore JOY is birthed when we receive the Holy Spirit.  It is an inwardly expressive strength that can make us get through when the going gets rough.  It fuels our patience and endurance that takes us farther and further.  It is a stream of heavenly glory that brings hope and sustains us to see God’s promises manifested before our eyes.

No wonder when Jesus was commissioning His disciples He said, “as the Father has sent Me so I’m sending you.  Then He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.”  (John 20:21-22)  I believe it’s because the ONLY way to effectively do what God has called us to do is when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and flooded with JOY.  The Spirit of God makes all the simple things that we do anointed and clothed with His power that can supernaturally, strongly and effectively make a difference in people’s lives. Haven’t you noticed that when Jesus touched a leper, healing flowed?  It was just one simple touch!  But because Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit without measure, His touch was supernaturally empowered to release the love of God in the presence of the Holy Spirit in Him.

“Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.”  Matthew 8:3

Jesus modeled what it means to walk in the earth filled and flooded with the riches measure of God’s divine presence in the Holy Spirit.  Mind you, you and I are TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?  You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP

When we come to know this truth, knowing practically and positioned to personally experience it, then we can touch people’s lives in our own simple ways yet empowered by His presence to make an impact within them and see our prayers and declarations made flesh, seeing them manifest before our eyes.  And if we get deeper into what Jesus spoke … “ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] WILL ALSO DO THE THINGS THAT I DO; and HE WILL DO EVEN GREATER THINGS than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.”  (John 14:12 AMP), these words will surely swift us off our feet when we realize that His thoughts of us and plans for us are HIGHER than what we can think and plan for ourselves.  This is THE GOOD NEWS!

For the JOY that is set before us, seeing people around us coming to know this GOSPEL, the GOOD NEWS, it propels us, compels us and makes us unstoppable.   In Him JOY is found that gets us farther and further and sustains our vitality, durability, stability and security spiritually, emotionally and physically in any and every way.   JOY is a heavenly commodity that we are to carry and steward it in our daily living to influence and invade the depressed atmosphere of this world to conform to that of heaven’s.

What privilege you and I have to be entrusted by God to be a carrier and steward of His presence.  Therefore, let us honor and glorify Him with all that we are as He wonderfully and fearfully created us to be … BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!  LOVED TO GIVE LOVE! JOYFUL TO DIFFUSE JOY!