Last week I was at Wildwood Church in Stafford and before I got there, I was praying about what God wanted me to share and I felt Him say, impart the gift of joy and I thought oh ok, that’s quite big.

Many of you won’t know my story more recently but I’ve been struggling with my mental health due to various personal circumstances, in recent years which have cause the re-emergence of some unresolved childhood trauma. I’ve been taking responsibility for this and going to counselling for the best part of a year now which has been really helpful, and I’d really recommend it to you!

So, my initial reaction to this encouragement from the Lord was, “why me?” I’m not sure I want to and even if I do want to, have I really got it in me? It’ll have to be by faith...

This week I felt again stirred by God to share a similar encouragement with you all here and I don’t know everyone’s situation here today or even those of you who may be reading this at a later date. I don’t know what you’ve been going through, you may have been through a season of trial, there could be many reasons for that, be they health or finance, any number of things! Sometimes we just don’t feel very joyful, although this morning you’re doing pretty well singing this new song.

For some people it might seem like a faint hope or some sort of false fantasy that religious people come up with as a way to make us dance. Joy isn’t like that, it’s a promise. Don’t let your circumstances steal your joy!

Did you know that the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is your strength? (Nehemiah 8:10)

You can go through the darkest valley and still know the strength of God’s joy because it’s based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross and your joy comes from that. Your joy comes from the fact that your name is written in the book of life (Luke 10:20).

This kind of Joy is not based upon your present circumstances but on the fact that you are hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3), so whether you’re feeling despair today or whether you simply just need to know more of God’s joy, then He wants to impart that to you today!

It’s simple, it’s not complicated, you simply need to say to God “will you show me your joy?” - it’s that simple!

We’re probably going to carry on with the song we’ve been singing in a minute, but I think before that if you would like to, why don't you hold out your hands, as if you’re asking God for a gift. Everybody can do that, if that’s something you want.

I’m simply going to pray that God will come and release joy in your life. I’m believing God for breakthrough in your circumstances and if that doesn’t happen, then I’m believing that God will give you a different perspective on your circumstance and show you how to know His joy through it.

Prayer
So, God, would you come this morning, would you impart something of your spirit of Joy to us today? Lord for those of us that need that, and I’m one of those people God, I need to know your joy, despite present circumstances. Lord, we need to know that you are with us, that we have been hidden with Christ in God. Lord, we need to know that you are our salvation and that, that doesn’t change, that’s constant, today, tomorrow, forever. Lord God, we thank you that you can fill us with joy and that we can know your joy and that we can pour it out to others. So, Lord God, would you fill us with your hope & your joy this morning in Jesus name!

Today
If you are reading this today, then I believe God wants to reveal and impart His joy to you today. You can do as I’ve suggested and simply hold out your hands as though you are receiving a gift. All you need to do is pray a simple prayer asking God to fill you with His supernatural joy. I don’t know the situation you are facing at the moment or the reasons why you want to know more Joy in your life, but I believe that God wants to impart that to you today in a new measure and in a way which can’t be quenched by your circumstance.

If you’d like to pray with someone to receive more of God’s joy in your life, then please do get in touch with us via the church office: info@jubilee.org.uk or 01332 322655

On Sunday I shared a prophetic word and the sense that God wanted me to impart the gift of Joy. I almost laughed internally when I felt God say this, as over recent years I've been struggling with mental health due to past trauma and the question - why me sprung to mind. Then ok God - if that's what you want, it's going to have to be by faith (wouldn't it be anyway?)!

You can read a bit more about this journey and my encouragement simply to ask God to reveal his Joy in the article here: https://jubd.uk/Cgn8Zg

You can also watch me share it at our gathering on Sunday.  I hope this encourages you to seek God for His joy as I have been encouraged to!