Overwhelmed with Joy

 What is it that brings genuine joy to your life? I am not talking about happiness. Joy is far greater than any happiness we can ever experience. Joy is a deep, abiding understanding that all is well, and we are so blessed. Real joy only comes from the Lord. It is the fruit of the Spirit, who comes into us after salvation. Only God's joy can overwhelm us with joy.

The prophet Isaiah described this joy very well. (Isaiah 61:10) He said, "I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God. For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels." Now, that is genuine joy.

We are overwhelmed with God's joy when we realize that God has saved us from our sins. He has clothed us with His salvation, which is eternal. We can never lose it. He has also draped us in a robe of righteousness. That is not our incomplete righteousness. It is the righteousness of Christ, the Perfect Lamb of God. Once we are saved, we are clean and ready for eternity with the Lord.

Can you remember your wedding day, or have you seen the bride and groom on their special day? They are filled with joy, as they think about being married to their soulmate. The groom gets dressed up and eagerly awaits seeing his bride. The bride adorns all kinds of jewels to be as beautiful for her husband to be as she can. That is joy, but the joy of the Lord is far greater than the joy of our wedding day. It is overwhelming.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 63-65.