“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them” (John 17:13).
Christian joy is a sensation of great pleasure in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the glory of Christ in His word, in the world and through His people. It is joy independent of our circumstances and it comes from our personal relationship with Christ. It is not a joy separate from Christ. It is the joy of Christ. It is the joy of His person. It is the joy of His presence. And He wants us to have it in full measure. This was Jesus’ prayer for our experience of life in Him. This is what He is inviting us to each day. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit whom Jesus sent to live inside us. It is part of the fruit we bear by abiding in Christ. It is not something we manufacture; it is something He gives. And it is the birthright of all who have been born again.
Therefore, in addition to asking the Lord to handle some of the practical matters that impact our lives, it is perfectly acceptable and appropriate to ask Him to bless our experience of His joy in our lives as we tackle the challenges of the week ahead.
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