Joy is a Matter of the Heart

YHWH||ANYAMARY||JESUSISRAEL share an article, “Joy is a Matter of the Heart”, from ANYAMARY’s @EverlastingJoy BLOG:

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness lies on the surface of life and is received from the world. Joy is found deep within your heart and comes from The Holy Spirit. What makes Joy, Everlasting? The Joy found in your heart is connected to the eternal God that is Everlasting!

Everlasting Joy is expressed as a quiet, calm, and constant peace through life circumstances. Understand there is a greater purpose as you walk through life’s disappointments, devastations, troubles, frustrations, afflictions, difficulties, pain, and suffering.

We all enjoy life when it is filled with laughter, quiet intimate moments with a family member or friend, accomplishment in school or on the job, progression to a better place to live or work, vacation, wedding, graduation, promotion, expecting a child, birth of a child, stability, and peace.

You wake up one morning and recognize that life is different; more difficult than yesterday. Happiness may have departed instantly, or perhaps it seeped out of your life gradually. Either way, you come to the realization that you have entered a period of change.

Do you have your shoes on?

Both hardwood and carpeted floors are easy to walk on with shoes. However, hardwood floors become uncomfortable to walk on quickly barefooted. This analogy is expressing that we should always keep our shoes on (or at least know where they are), as life is destined to switch up on us. Carpeted floors to hardwood, no one is exempt.

Our shoes represent the Joy that covers our feet as we walk through difficult times. Joy allows us to remain comfortable on the journey despite the change in terrain. Remember, The Holy Spirit is the only giver of Joy. Everyone and everything else offering Joy are counterfeits. Counterfeit shoes will not survive through the new terrain. Examples of counterfeit shoes: drugs, money, religion.

Be careful about getting too comfortable by taking off your shoes on carpeted terrain. It is okay to enjoy the good times of life but with the understanding that life is ever-changing. Be careful not to lose your shoes by grabbing hold of the false perception that the current state of being is immortal.

We can learn so much from the Israelites that wandered the desert for 40 years (Book of Numbers). When God, manifested as a Pillar of Cloud and of Fire, stopped moving, the Israelites setup their tents to dwell in that spot. But the minute they got comfortable, the Pillar of God manifested began to move. They scrambled to pack up everything to follow the Pillar of God manifested. Those that chose to stay, died in the desert. Their shoes did not wear out during those 40 years of wandering around in the desert.

The constant movement of the Israelites in the Book of Numbers, reminds them of God and prevented them from losing their shoes or finding counterfeit shoes to wear. God through Jesus Christ understands the weak-willed flesh. He Himself asked The Father to pass The Cup from Him (His flesh crying out, “No!”, to The Cross – Luke 22:42).

The Benefits of Abasing

Traveling through difficult terrain, cause you to fully seek, rely on, and trust The Lord. Through times of abasing, are when you see the glory of God manifested in your life through the power of The Holy Spirit.

Prayer and Faith are strengthened. The Word renews your mind through intense meditation. Spiritual gifts are magnified and radiate out to many the glory of God present in your own life. Your personality is sharpened to bring out your Divine Character.

Most importantly, you learn to remember your God during times of abounding and you learn that His Joy is always better than your current temporal happiness.

My revelation from The Holy Spirit for you this week is this:

God wants you to know that He alone is Better and Greater than All of life’s circumstances. Your expression of His Joy during times of suffering and hardship, shine light on the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifested in the Person and revealed in the face of Jesus Christ! (2 Cor 4:6 paraphrased).

**The Holy Spirit is calling me to express just two focus areas for the week:**

Ask yourself these questions, Do I have my shoes on? If I don’t, do I know where my shoes are?
- If you don’t have your shoes on, your happiness comes from your worldly circumstances and not from The Holy Spirit. If your shoes are on, you are receiving your Joy from The Holy Spirit.
- This week I will be releasing a Bible Study Reflection that will examine more in-depth why Joy is a matter of the heart. This upcoming article will help you receive more Joy from The Holy Spirit. Link posted here.
Recognize the goodness of God in both the good times and the bad times by discovering the Jewel of Joy (2 Cor 4:6).
- During your quiet moments with God, ask The Holy Spirit: What changes do I need to make in my life to find that hidden Jewel of Joy underneath the surface and within my own heart?
- When you have found the Jewel of Joy, wear it to reflect the light of Jesus Christ onto those who have lost their shoes or those who are wearing counterfeit shoes: and thus, are perishing in this world.

Closing Scripture for Meditation This Week:

“And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My Joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].”
(‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭13‬ AMPC)