Happiness:

People often equate happiness with joy, but the two are quite different. Our best clue to the meaning of happiness is found in one of its close synonyms, contentment, which has the same root as the word contain. To be content is to contain or possess what we want. So to be happy is to be satisfied, either because we have what we desire, or because we've given up the desire for what we don't have.

Happiness, then, is not so much a feeling as it is a condition or state of being. It's a calming of the heart's activity. Jesus spoke, for example, of the shepherd who is happy to find a lost sheep (Mt. 18:13). Once the shepherd obtains what he wants, his activity toward that goal ceases. The writer to the Hebrews told Christians to be happy (or content) by giving up the desire to obtain more than what they had (Heb. 13:5).

We can see why the pursuit of happiness is the unhappiest of pursuits: We can't always have what we want; when we get what we want, we may lose it; and even if we don't lose it, the sense of satisfaction may fade as we find ourselves attracted to something else. That's why it's so important not to confuse joy with happiness. The Lord has promised that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). But He never promised that we would have everything we want in this life. If we want to discover joy, we won't find it by continually striving to arrange the circumstances of our lives in a satisfying way. We must look for it elsewhere.

Joy:

Like happiness, joy brings us pleasure; so what exactly is the difference between the two? One simple definition of joy that might distinguish the two experiences is this: Joy is the sense of delight that arises within us in the presence of someone or something we love. While happiness is a condition or state of being, joy is a response. Joy depends, not on our acquisition of something, but rather on our encounter with something. Happiness possesses; joy appreciates. Happiness grasps; joy beholds.

This understanding of joy is found throughout the Bible. For example, joy is the appreciative response of a father to the wisdom he finds in a cherished son (Prov. 15:20). It's the exultation of someone who loves righteousness upon seeing justice reign in the land (Prov. 21:15). It's the pleasure taken by a citizen of Jerusalem in the beauty of that beloved city (Ps. 48:1-2). In each of these cases, people aren't feeling content because they have acquired something (happiness); they're taking delight in their encounter with something they love (joy).

Looking for joy:

To discover joy, we must abandon the search for it, and go looking instead for the One who is Himself joy to see, to know, and to love. God is always with us. But our view of Him is often limited or obstructed. Either by the difficult circumstances of our lives or by the wayward attitudes of our hearts. So if we want the joy God has promised, we must always be looking for God's presence, whatever the situation in which we may find ourselves. We may have ample cause for sorrow; but no matter how difficult a situation might be, if we can somehow see the goodness of God at work, we will know Him better, love Him more, and find joy in His nearness.

Joy in the everyday:

Sometimes joy seems to elude us most in the everyday routine. The world seems gray; the hours seem empty. We aren't particularly distressed, but we don't find much pleasure in what we do. In these times, joy must come to us the same way it comes when we are hurting: We must catch a glimpse of the Lord. The task of preparing ourselves for joy in the ordinary circumstances of life is actually a matter of directing our attention.

Perhaps surprisingly, we make room in our lives for God's joy through the traditional disciplines of the Christian life-such things as prayer, worship, Scripture study, fellowship, and service. Each discipline can open our eyes to some aspect of God's goodness that enables us to see, know, love, and delight in Him more deeply.

If we want our lives to flow with joy, then we have to look for the Lord in what we're doing. However dismal or intimidating our circumstances may seem, we must look for God's fingerprints in the midst of them, some indication that He is with us. Only then will we be able to "leap for joy," as Jesus said, because we'll be looking past the hardship to focus on our great reward: the Lord Himself (Lk. 6:23).

Psalms 16:11...You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand...Joy comes from a personal relationship with the Lord.

Deuteronomy 16:15...For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete...Obedience to the Lord brings complete joy.

1Chronicles 16:23-31...Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"...The joy of praise!

Psalms 19:8...The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes...God's Word is a source of joy.

John 15:10-11...If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete...Intimate relationship with Jesus is our source of joy.

1Thessalonians 1:6...You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit...The Holy Spirit produces joy within the believer.

Romans 15:13...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...Trusting God brings joy.

John 17:13...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...We can have a full measure of Jesus' joy.

1Peter 1:6-9...In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls...Our trials should bring joy.




Please check us out at

http://www.freewebs.com/eagleflame/  
http://www.freewebs.com/manassehministries/  
http://www.myspace.com/apostlezook  
http://soaringpreachers.ning.com/profile/ApostleWilliamZook  

Check out our books and seminars at

http://www.lulu.com/flameministries  


Remember: