I Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Romans 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather
rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me
indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of
men.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
I Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice evermore.
Repent
Psalm 32:3-11
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the
drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will
confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
Selah.
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be
found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass
me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with
mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose
mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy
shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are
upright in heart.
Hebrews 12:5-11
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My
son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom
the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,
and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,
and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for
our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby.
Trust in God
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.
See the Big Picture
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God.
Give Thanks in All Things
I Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send
portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord:
neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Joy is a result of God's work. We are commanded to rejoice!
Biblical Examples of Joy
Hannah when Samuel was born
~I Samuel 2:1-11
Naomi when Boaz was kind to Ruth
~Ruth 2:20 and 4:14~
When David slew Goliath
~I Samuel 18:6,7~
Elisabeth when visited by Mary
~Luke 1:5~
Angels when Jesus was born
~Luke 2:13,14~
Shepherds and Magi when they saw the baby Jesus
~Luke 2:20 and Matthew 2:10~
The father whose prodigal son returned
~Luke 15:20-32~
Angels when sinners repent
~Luke 15:7,10~
Disciples after resurrection of Jesus
~Luke 24:41~
Paul and Silas in jail at Philippi
~Acts 16:25~
Quotes
I sometimes wander whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.
~ C. S. Lewis ~
Tis so much joy! Tis so much joy! If I should fail, what poverty! And yet, as poor as I Have
ventured all upon a throw; Have gained! Yes! Hesitated so this side the victory!
~ Emily Dickinson ~
The purpose of rejoicing is not so we can feel better emotionally (though that will happen). The purpose of joy is to glorify God by demonstrating to an unbelieving world that our loving and faithful heavenly Father cares for us and provides for us all that we need.
~Jerry Bridges - "The Practice of Godliness" ~
Essays and Poems
Is
He Really My Lord?
~Oswald Chambers~
My Joy - - Your Joy
~Oswald Chambers~
"Pleasant
fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." -
Song of Solomon 7:13
~Charles Spurgeon~
He holds the Master Key of Joy and Sorrow
~Annie Johnson Flint~
The
Path of Life
~Safe Haven~