Joy.  Isn't that something we all want?  Sometimes even long for?  Wonder why it seems to be lacking in our lives?  What exactly is joy, after all?  Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines it as:

The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and looking at this definition, how can I NOT be filled with joy?  Well, that happens when I am not living in light of the Truth.  Let's take a another look at this definition, breaking it up a bit to examine it more closely.

1.  the passion or emotion  - this reminds us that joy is, in fact, something that we feel.  Passion would imply that we feel it strongly.

2.  excited by  - something causes, brings about, joy.

3.  (excited by) the acquisition or expectation of good  - Even from a human or worldly perspective, I can make a long list of "good" things that I have acquired.  I can probably even have some expectation that at least some more "good" will come into my life at some point.  Is that where it ends?  Is that where the joy comes from?  Or the lack of it?  I would argue that this thinking is exactly why many of us, as believers in Christ, ride a roller coaster of emotions in search of joy, but never seeming to stay joyful.  It is because we are looking at it from the wrong perspective.  We have become so assimilated into this world that is not really our Home, that we have taken on the mindsets that bombard us from all around.  We are continually told what will make us happier (joy?), make our lives better (I even saw an ad for a special kind of television screen that will supposedly "improve your life" if you purchase it!  Sad...), etc....  If we are not very careful, we will allow these messages to pervade our own thoughts, guide our emotions and hearts.  We won't even realize it, but we will look more like the world than we ever wanted to.  We will not look like foreigners that are serving a purpose before going HOME.

Let's look at those words again:  the acquisition or expectation of good.  Let's view this part of joy's definition through the lens of Truth, God's Word.  Have I acquired any good?  Oh, my.  Ephesians 2:4-9 says, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."  What have we acquired?  Salvation as a gift from God.  We have been raised with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places.  GOOD things, or not???  Wow! 

4.  This passage also gives us some of the next part of the definition: expectation of good.   In the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Expectation of even more good from the Lord!

Psalm 103 reminds us of much good the Lord bestows on us:  "...forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.  The Lord performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed...  The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkiness toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust."  (vs. 2b-6, 8-14)  No matter that He knows in the grand scheme of life, the world, and eternity we are DUST...He still chooses to pour out all of these blessings on us!!!  Incredible.  I'd say that is some real good that ought to bring us true JOY!  We could search the Scriptures and find countless good like this.  Good that the Lord has already given to us!  Promises for our futures! 

5.  So we look at some more of the definition:  that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed,  Does the great good we just touched on above excite pleasurable feelings in you?  If not, why?  Isn't that something to consider?  If we meditate on all that God has done for us, surely we ought to have pleasurable feelings beyond measure for all of the success, good fortune and good He has enabled us to possess!!!  Once again, I think that it is the assimilation of worldly values that causes us to miss out on so much of this.  Look again:  the gratification of desire or some good possessed - if the desires we have are not in line with God's will, if our definition of "good" is that of the world, then we will always long for what seems like unattainable joy.   We will always be disappointed.  And we will miss out on the immeasurable joy of the goodness of God and all He has for us - past, present and future!

6.  The next bit of joy's definition is this:  or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; Again, our perspective plays a huge role here!  What is it that we love or desire?  Man's admiration or attention?  Material possessions?  A large sum of money in our bank account?  A life of seeming comfort and ease?  The ability to do what we want, when we want to do it, how we want to do it?  Or do we LOVE our Savior?  Do we DESIRE Christ above all?  I last wrote that my prayer (one of them) for the New Year is that I would truly delight in the Lord and in His Word.  Let's see how Mr. Webster defined delight:  To affect with great pleasure; to please highly; to give or afford high satisfaction or joy.  Hmmm...how very interesting!  So...maybe it is possible that if we delight in the Lord and His Word, the Truth, that we might find ourselves experiencing true JOY???  Joy that cannot be taken away from us?  That we cannot possibly lose?

I remembered this morning a song I learned when I was a very young child in Sunday school.  "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  Where?  Down in my heart!  Where?  Down in my heart!  I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  Where?  Down in my heart to stay!"  Hmmm...I didn't expect back then that the joy would not stay.  Why did it leave?  Because I didn't stay focused on Christ, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.  I did not keep my eyes fixed on eternal things, rather than the temporal things of the earth.  I'm so thankful that the Lord does not give up on us, that He continues to draw us closer to Himself no matter how many times we allow ourselves to get distracted or we build up walls to "protect ourselves" (foolish, right?!?!). 

7.  The last part of joy's definition says: gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.  Psalm 4:7a says, "You have put gladness in my heart..."  May be continually ask the Lord in this new year to draw ourselves ever closer to Him.  To instill in us such a deep desire to know Him more, to really study His Word, to meditate on it.  Romans 12:2 tells us "...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  May we be transformed as our minds are renewed by dwelling on the Truth of His Word.  May we be filled with joy for all that the Lord has done for us, is doing, and will do!  And in 2009, by His grace, may we be able to say that the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Neh. 8:10)

Surely, if God would do this for us, it would be for our good and for HIS GLORY!!!  Father, would You work this in us, and make 2009 a year of Joy?  May You do it for Your Name's sake, that we might make much of You!  In Christ's Name we ask it, Amen.