Psalms - Joy

What this episode covers

Psalm 27:1-6Apprentice: someone who has decided to follow another person to become capable of doing what that person does, or become who that person is. “We are learning from Jesus to live our lives as He would live our life if He were us. I am not necessarily learning to do everything He did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that He did all He did.” Dallas WillardIt means that instead of working on the text, we let the text work on us. It means reading formational rather than informationally, which is the habit we bring to reports, newspapers, textbooks, and most of the reading we do. It means embracing the text rather than holding it at arm’s length. It means being vulnerable to hear how God might address us through the text rather than managing the text to serve our curiosity and need to control. Howard R. MacyA great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings. People nearly always act on their feelings, and think it only right. The will is then left at the mercy of circumstances that evoke feelings. Christian spiritual formation today must squarely confront this fact and overcome it.Dallas Willard“Psalms teaches us that life with God is not about running from our emotions, and its not about being run by our emotions, but its somewhere in the middle. That perfect balance can only be found in God and with God.”J.A. WilsonIn a world marred by sin, it is important and appropriate to express a range of feelings when we pray. The Psalms are filled with expressions of human emotion, and they teach us how to express our emotion in godly ways.He Reads Truth Study BibleJOY21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money[b] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.Matthew 19:21-22Teleios: brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.Matthew 19:22What were these [riches] in comparison of peace of conscience, and mental rest? Besides, he had unequivocal proof that these contributed nothing to his comfort, for he is now miserable even while he possesses them! And so will every soul be, who puts worldly goods in the place of the supreme God.Adam ClarkeJoy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.G.K. ChestertonJoy is the serious business of Heaven.C.S. LewisYou have put more joy in my heart     than they have when their grain and wine abound.Psalm 4:7Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,    exulting in his salvation.Psalm 35:98I keep the Lord always before me;     because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;     my body also rests secure.10For you do not give me up to Sheol     or let your faithful one see the Pit.11You show me the path of life.     In your presence there is fullness of joy;     in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.Psalm 16:8-11For his anger is but for a moment;    his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may linger for the night,    but joy comes with the morning…You have turned my mourning into dancing;    you have taken off my sackcloth    and clothed me with joy,so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.Psalm 30:5, 11-12Joy is a feeling in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in His word and in His work.John PiperJoy of the Lord is a feeling of happiness that we can experience.If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them. They are not a sort of prize which God could, if He chose, just hand out to anyone.C.S. LewisIf we see the root of love as being a feeling, then we will stop loving when we don’t feel it anymore; in the same way, if we don’t see joy as a feeling that is rooted in the person of God, then we won’t choose to be with Him.4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,     that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord     all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord     and to inquire in his temple.Psalm 27:48 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.Philippians 3:8The notion that religion is dull, stupid and sleepy is abhorrent to God, for He has created infinite variety and He loves to surprise us. If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are. Shake out of it, and approach Him in one of the countless fresh directions. Every tree, every cloud, every bird, every orchestra, every child, every city, every soap bubble is alive with God to those who know his language.Frank LaubachJOY IS ROOTED IN CHOICE TO BE CONNECTED TO GODGod is infinitely more important than His advice or His gifts; indeed, He, Himself, is the great gift.Frank LaubachBE WITH GOD (Union with Christ)We are always with God, but we don’t always live like we are ALWAYS with God.If you say, “What does it mean to get up in the morning and experience union with Christ?” It means you bank totally on him for the living of your life.John PiperMEDITATE ON GODRESPOND TO GODMy friend, God has a longing for you. Do you respond to that? It is awful to live with a person who does not express his love. Marriage is not an arrangement whereby a woman gets a living and a man gets a cook. Marriage is a love relationship; if it is not that, it isn’t anything. Our relationship to God should be like that. David’s heart responded when God said, “I love you.” David said, “I love you.” When God said, “I want to have fellowship with you,” David said, “...

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