I want to tell you about a joy that can chase away every sadness and fill your heart to overflowing. It's not a fleeting feeling based on how your day is going, but something you build day by day in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
It's your relationship with the Holy Spirit that will lead you to truly know God. And once you know Him, you'll worship Him in a way that pours out of you like a river of praise, just thinking about how amazing your Savior is. You'll understand His goodness in your life, and laughter will just bubble up.
That's when you'll realize that the happiness this world offers is based on things that fade away, but the joy Jesus puts in your soul lasts forever. God wants you to find refuge in Him, and even in the midst of tears, to find a song of worship rising within you.
When you come to Him, surrendering at His feet, you'll be filled and comforted. Even when you're going through tough times, trials, and struggles, the joy of the Lord will be your strength, and you'll be able to keep going, fulfilling the purpose God has for you.
By God’s grace, His joy will uphold you and give you what you need to face anything. As Psalm 28:7 (NIV) says, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."
And since the king is the highest official, he benefits most from the taxes paid on the land.
You have never seen Jesus, and you don't see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happyyou are to be saved. This is why you have faith.
God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful,gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
When times are good, you should be cheerful; when times are bad, think about what it means. God makes them both to keep us from knowing what will happen next.
and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours.
But don't be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Jesus said, “In the same way there is more happiness in heaven because of one sinner who turns to God than over 99 good people who don't need to.”
Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
Tell everyone on this earth to sing happy songs in praise of the Lord.Make music for him on harps. Play beautiful melodies!Sound the trumpets and horns and celebrate with joyful songs for our Lord and King!
Then I will worship at your altar because you make me joyful. You are my God, and I will praise you. Yes, I will praise you as I play my harp.
Lord God All-Powerful, your temple is so lovely!One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather serve in your house, than live in the homes of the wicked.Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right.Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.
You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful.
Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice.
I celebrate and shout because of my Lord God. His saving power and justice are the very clothes I wear. They are more beautiful than the jewelry worn by a bride or groom.
But I am like an olive tree growing in God's house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.I will always thank God for what he has done; I will praise his good name when his people meet.
We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God's throne!
Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth.Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!
God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit.
You have given him blessings that will last forever, and you have made him glad by being so near to him.
We cried as we went out to plant our seeds. Now let us celebrate as we bring in the crops.
Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.
When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace. Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Our Lord, you bless those who join in the festival and walk in the brightness of your presence.
Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food.By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live.
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble.If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things God wants done.You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message planted in you to save you.Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening to it.If you hear the message and don't obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirrorand forget what they look like as soon as they leave.But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget.If you think you are being religious, but can't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is useless.Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.You know you learn to endure by having your faith tested.
“Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”
You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards.
Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you, Lord! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God.
Our Lord, we ask you to bless our people again, and let us be like streams in the Southern Desert.
Christ has also introduced us to God's gift of undeserved grace on which we now take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God.
Our God, I am faithful to you with all my heart, and you can trust me. I will sing and play music for you with all that I am.
especially in Jerusalem. He sent me to give them flowers in place of their sorrow, olive oil in place of tears, and joyous praise in place of broken hearts. They will be called “Trees of Justice,” planted by the Lord to honor his name.
You have rescued me! I will celebrate and shout, singing praises to you with all my heart.
I long for someone from Zion to come and save Israel! Our Lord, when you bless your people again, Jacob's family will be glad, and Israel will celebrate.
Finally, my dear friends, be glad that you belong to the Lord. It doesn't bother me to write the same things to you that I have written before. In fact, it is for your own good.
Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.Nations surrounded me, but I got rid of them by the power of the Lord.They attacked from all sides, but I got rid of them by the power of the Lord.They swarmed around like bees, but by the power of the Lord, I got rid of them and their fiery sting.Their attacks were so fierce that I nearly fell, but the Lord helped me.My power and my strength come from the Lord, and he has saved me.From the tents of God's people come shouts of victory: “The Lord is powerful!With his mighty arm the Lord wins victories! The Lord is powerful!”And so my life is safe, and I will live to tell what the Lord has done.He punished me terribly, but he did not let death lay its hands on me.Open the gates of justice! I will enter and tell the Lord how thankful I am.Let Israel shout, “God is always merciful!”
The people the Lord has rescued will come back singing as they enter Zion. Happiness will be a crown everyone will always wear. They will celebrate and shout because all sorrows and worries will be gone far away.
David and the people were very happy that so much had been given to the Lord, and they all celebrated.
Our Lord, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them, so let them always say, “The Lord is wonderful!”
At that time, people will say, “The Lord has saved us! Let's celebrate. We waited and hoped— now our God is here.”
But I never really left you, and you hold my right hand.Your advice has been my guide, and later you will welcome me in glory.
It seemed like a dream when the Lord brought us back to the city of Zion. We celebrated with laughter and joyful songs. In foreign nations it was said, “The Lord has worked miracles for his people.”
David then told the leaders to choose some Levites to sing and play music on small harps, other stringed instruments, and cymbals.
The Lord's instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly, and they give us light.
The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when someone finds a treasure hidden in a field and buries it again. Such a person is happy and goes and sells everything in order to buy that field.
With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless.
Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.
and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.
I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won't be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me.”
When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away.The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me.
You are wonderful, and while everyone watches, you store up blessings for all who honor and trust you.
Nehemiah told the people, “Enjoy your good food and wine and share some with those who didn't have anything to bring. Don't be sad! This is a special day for the Lord, and he will make you happy and strong.”
Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice.Our Lord, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.
I celebrate and shout because you are kind. You saw all my suffering, and you cared for me.
I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won't be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me.”With great joy, you people will get water from the well of victory.
Now those you have rescued will return to Jerusalem, singing on their way. They will be crowned with great happiness, never again to be burdened with sadness and sorrow.
You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. Then it will be given to you, so you will be completely happy.