“Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” (2 Cor. 6:10 NLT)

When troubles come your way, it’s an opportunity for great JOY!

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Hab. 3:17-18 NIV)

Shout and sing for JOY because great is your God!

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” (Isa. 12:6 NIV)

“Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” (Psalm 34:5 NLT)

Those who delight and meditate in the Lord will experience JOY!

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalms 1:1-3 NLT)

You have JOY in the Holy Spirit!

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17 NIV)

Trust in Him and be filled with all JOY and peace! 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10 NIV)

Strength and JOY fill His dwelling

“Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling.” (1 Chron. 16:27 NLT)

The Lord is your strength, your shield and fills your heart with JOY

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” (Psalm 28:7 NLT)

 You will be strengthened with God’s glorious power and filled with JOY

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.” (Col. 1:9-12 NLT)

 “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” (Psalm 19:8 NLT)

JOYFUL are those who obey His laws and search for them with all their hearts

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” (Psalms 119:1-3 NLT)

God’s instructions sustain you with JOY

“Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.” (Psalms 119:91-93 NLT)

Those who listen and follow God’s ways will be wise, JOYFUL, receive His favor and prosper 

“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” (Prov. 8:32-35 NLT)

 “Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.” (Prov. 16:20 NLT)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (2 Peter 3:15 ESV)

The Gospel is the power of God that changes everyone who believes.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16 ESV)

God uses people to preach the Gospel so people will hear and believe

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom. 10:13-14 ESV)

It is the great commission given by Jesus

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'” (Mark 16:15 NKJV)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (2 Peter 3:15 ESV)

The Gospel is the power of God that changes everyone who believes

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16 ESV)

It is the great commission given by Jesus

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'” (Mark 16:15 NKJV)

Therefore... 

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:3 NKJV)

“But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.” (2 Cor. 8:7 ESV)

An excellent spirit within

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” (Dan. 6:3 ESV)

Set your mind to excellence

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 ESV)

You may approve what is excellent

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Phil. 1:9-10 ESV)

He called you to His own glory and excellence

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Proclaim the excellencies of God

”But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Prov. 27:17 ESV)

Help others with a spirit of gentleness

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1 ESV)

Forgive those who repent

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3 ESV)

Cover a multitude of sins

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20 ESV)

Do it privately

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” (Matt. 18:50 ESV)

 Kindness leads to repentance

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4 ESV)

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18 ESV)

Be reconciled to your brother

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” (Matt. 5:23-26 ESV)

Reconcile all things through Him

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col.  1:29 ESV)

Strive for peace with everyone

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14 ESV)

Forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you

“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col. 3:13 ESV)

“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall.” (Isa. 25:4 ESV)

He made the storm be still

“He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” (Psalm 197:29 ESV)

He rebukes the winds

“And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (Matt. 8:26 ESV)

The wind and the sea obey Him

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 3:39-41)

He will calm the storm and guide you to your desired haven

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” (Psalms 107:28-31 NIV)