Complete lasting joy

Down in My Heart Kind of Joy
Lesson 17
Complete Lasting Joy

Let’s see if we can wrap this up in a nice package. Back in Lesson 12 we looked at John 15 where it says “complete joy, “ and we asked the question what does complete joy look like in my life? Here is what I have come up with. I'm a visual person and I have a picture, but I don't know how to get it on this post, so you will have to use your imagination with me.

Picture a circle. The first point on that circle is this: I spend time with God, my source of joy, and He gives me joy. Then continue around the circle and the second point is: That satisfaction in Him gives me strength to obey. When I try to obey, He helps me along the way, and I remain in His love. The final point on the circle is: Then because of the wonderful things He is doing in me, I praise Him with shouts of joy! And the circle continues that when I praise Him, I'm back to the beginning where I spend time in His presence.

Joy comes from God and goes back to God, completing a circle of joy around me. (You can write your name in the center.) I hesitate to illustrate that it revolves around me because it is all about God. Joy comes from Him, He empowers me, and I give it back to Him. I guess I see it as He wraps around me.

Read John 3:27.

If I receive joy, where does it come from?

Write Romans 11:36.

When my joy is based on the constant of God, it can be consistent through any changing situation or relationship. That is lasting, deep down in your heart kind of joy!

Thank you for joining me on this journey! It has been my pleasure to honor the Lord by serving you in this way. In light of what we have studied together, these verses are so rich and bless me. May they bless you too as we end this time together.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we can now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. (NLT)
Romans 5:1-2

To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more! Amen. (NIV)
Jude 1:24-25

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance. (NLT)
Psalm 33:12

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
Romans 15:13

Heart question:
What is something you learned from this study that you want to remember?