The Joy of Jesus
Sometimes we get so caught up in Jesus being a "Man of sorrows acquainted with grief' that we forget the He was continually filled with His Father's joy! If you have any doubts about this, just read the Song of Solomon. There the king (and bridegroom) represents God.
Reading this marvelous book at the end of a hard day is one of the best medicines I can imagine for a heavy heart. You can see how the king continuously rejoices in His Beloved (that's you!), and how He relishes her beauty. Nothing can quench His joy! No obstacles are too great in His quest for her.
What are the keys to entering into His joy? The first is total trust; the second is constantly abiding in His Presence. Jesus was a master of these two keys. Not only did He surrender to total trust in God, but He knew that in God's Presence was fullness of joy and He refused to leave!
As the psalmist prophetically declared, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage. I have set the LORD always before me... Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth...in thy presence is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:6, 8, 9, 11).
Tonight, set the Lord before your eyes and meditate deeply on the joy that can be found in Him as you go to sleep. Jesus is with you, waiting to fill you with the joy of the Lord.
God loves you and wants to answer your prayer. Say this prayer with me:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy which You long to impart on me. No longer will depression, dejection, or sorrow overwhelm me instead I choose to meditate on Your joy and look for ways in which it's reflected all around me. As I go to sleep I set Your face before me, knowing that in Your Presence is fullness of joy! In Jesus' Name, Amen.