Joy - Laetitia Zeeman

 

I was at the car wash when someone made the comment:

“You are most definitely not from this area, because you are laughing”.

This comment inspired me to introduce you to the Spirit of Joy.

On 25 April 2020, I was alone in my apartment in Reebok, Mossel Bay.

Not only was it during the Covid-19 lock-down but it was also my birthday.

For my birthday, I wanted to go down the Mossel Bay zip line, but things turned out completely different than planned.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself being alone on my birthday, I immediately renewed my mind and instead of thinking that I am “locked down”, I decided to rather see it as “separated” and “hidden in the Beloved” – the Beloved is mine and I am His.

I decided to share a video on Facebook, inviting family and friends to join me in a laughing meditation.

Galatians 5 states that joy that overflows is one of the fruits produced by the Holy Spirit within you.

The meaning of my name, Laetitia, is joy, because the Joy of the Lord is my strength.

Colossians 1:27 says that Christ in me is my hope to Glory and since He is in me and I am in Him, the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Romans 14:17 Passion Translation

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace, and JOY.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Passion Translation

“Let joy be your continual feast”.

I want to sing with David in Psalm 34

Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me!

 

Your source for joy is being one with the Father.

Joy is supposed to be your natural state.

 

In Psalm 94:19 David sings:

“Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control,

 the soothing comfort of your presence

 calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.”

Psalm 16:11 says:

“Because of you, I know the path of life,

 as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence.

 At your right side I experience divine pleasures forevermore!”

1 Peter 1:8

You love him passionately although you have not seen him, but through believing in him you are saturated with an ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory.

Psalm 28:7

“Yahweh is my strength and my wraparound shield.

 When I fully trust in you, help is on the way.

 I jump for joy and burst forth with ecstatic, passionate praise!

 I will sing songs of what you mean to me!”

Romans 15:13

“Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!”

Romans 12:12

The Passion Translation

“Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.”

Proverbs 17:22

“A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul.

But the one whose heart is crushed

struggles with sickness and depression.”

I want to encourage you with:

Hebrews 12:2

“We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!”

Spurgeon was once criticized for putting too much laughter in his sermons.

His reply to the woman who had button-haled him was classic:

“My good lady, if you only knew how much I restrain myself”.

Psalm 126:2 shows us that not only does laughter and God go together but also God and JOY.

I honestly believe that this Psalm was written to help us discover the secret of joy!

Psalm 126:2-6

We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness.

We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise.

 All the nations saw it and joined in, saying,

 “The Lord has done great miracles for them!”

Yes, he did mighty miracles, and we are overjoyed!

Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory!

May streams of your refreshing flow over us

 until our dry hearts are drenched again.

Those who sow their tears as seeds

 will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.

They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow,

but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness

as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!

 

Joy is a hallmark of Christian faith.

You are made for joy.

You are made to find joy in Christ.

Rejoicing should be as automatic and natural as breathing.

 

Here are 3 thoughts from C.S. Lewis about joy:

“The whole of man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy”.

“Joy is the serious business of heaven”.

“All joy emphasizes our pilgrim status;

Always reminds, beckons, and awakens desire. 

Our best havings are wantings.”

 

Listen to what David write in Psalm 100:1-3

“Lift up a great shout of joy to Yahweh!

Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!

Worship Yahweh with gladness.

Sing your way into his presence with joy!

And realize what this really means—

we have the privilege of worshiping Yahweh our God.

For he is our Creator, and we belong to him.

We are the people of his pleasure.”

May joy and health be with you always.

May joy and peace surround you. 

Laetitia Zeeman