“But the angel said, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;” Luke‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

Someone said, “Joy is the center for people that are born again, sorrow is the peripheral. For the skeptic sorrow is the center and joy is peripheral.”

The Bible says about Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭

What is the path to joy? First, it is the revelation that Jesus is the author and finisher of every believer’s story. Before being Born Again we were our own author of our own story. When we are born from above or born again we release that title of author and give it to Jesus. The Holy Spirit then becomes the author of our story. That beloved is what happens when we read the Bible and obey what the Holy Spirit says. We begin to experience joy in our inner person. Second, joy is realized when we realize we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live for ourselves but for Him who gave His life for us. This happens when our inner desire is to do the will of God...and I do it. Singleness of purpose births peace and joy because we are at rest.

Lastly, joy takes hold and is central to every believer when we realize, we have no ability to write the final chapter of our story whether we are born again or not. Jesus is the finisher of every persons story. Nevertheless, God has chosen to mingle His story with our story to take us where we can’t go on our own. All it takes is faith. Faith in The Holy Spirit’s ability to do it. Result: the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Eyes fixed on Jesus.