INTRODUCTION

The Bible provides several sources of man’s joy, but each source can in some way be directly traced back to the Lord. In today's passage, Psalm 43:4Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
See All... describes God as the psalmist's “exceeding joy.” According to Psalm 16:11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
See All..., there is “fulness of joy” in God’s presence. While the Bible indicates that man’s soul can be joyful in the Lord (Psalm 35:9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
See All...; Isaiah 61:10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
See All...), it also associates joy directly to God’s strength (Psalm 21:1The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
See All...). Moreover, God’s word provides a source of joy for the saint (Jeremiah 15:16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
See All...). In the New Testament, the book of Romans identifies God as the saint’s source of joy, but specifically, this joy comes “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
See All...). Perhaps men lack the joy of the Lord because they disregard the Lord of their joy.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): David said, "I will be glad and rejoice in thee" (Psalm 9:2I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
  See All...). Habakkuk 3:18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
  See All... concludes with "I will joy in the God of my salvation." How can you be assured of being glad and find joy in the Lord? The answer is simply dwell upon the things He has done for you through the cross.
• (For everyone): Do you spend time in prayer daily? Do you set aside the time to read and study the word of God? If not, you are missing some of the most important opportunities to know the joy of the Lord.
• What are your sources for joy? Is your joy irregular? If so, you most likely are looking for joy in the wrong place. When our affections are placed squarely upon the source of joy, it will not falter or waver like those who trust in self.

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you find your joy in Him and His word.
• Ask God to show you if your sources for finding joy are misleading you.

HYMN

Jesus Is All the World to Me

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