The word means different things to different people.

Is it simply an emotion or feeling? Do we only feel

joy when life seems to be going good, when our

circumstances are favorable? Or is there something

more? I'd like to explore what Word of God says

about this topic.

Psalm 16:11 says "Thou will show me path of life,

in Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand

there are pleasures for evermore."

Psalm 43:4 says "Then will I go to altar of God,

unto God my exceeding joy...."

Nehemiah 8:10 says ...."the joy of Lord is my

strength".

What these scriptures say is that God Himself is the

source of our joy. And that joy gives us strength.

Have you ever noticed when you're feeling blue, that

you tend to feel weak and tired too?

Here are some promises God offers us concerning joy:

Psalm 30:5...."weeping may endure for a night, but joy

comes in morning."

Isaiah 35:10 "And ransomed of Lord (His children)

shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting

joy upon their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Isaiah 61:3 says "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,

to give unto them beauty for ashes, oil of joy for

mourning, garment of praise for spirit of

heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness,

the planting of Lord, that He might be glorified."

Joy is also one of fruits of Spirit.

He WANTS to give us joy! Sometimes we think of God as

heavy handed wanting to give us a hard time anytime we

mess up, but that's not His heart at all, He wants to give

us joy. But will we receive Him in order to receive the

joy He offers us?

Isaiah 12:3 says "therefore with joy shall ye draw water

out of wells of salvation."

Psalm 51:12: "Restore unto me, joy of thy salvation,

and uphold me with thy free spirit."

In salvation (the term used when we ask Jesus to be our

God, our savior) there is joy. I found this true as well.

As soon as I prayed and gave my life to Him, I felt real

joy for first time in my life. It was like coming home.

It is beyond description!

Hebrews 12:2 says "Looking unto Jesus, author and

The bible has many accounts throughout time that He used dreams as a form of communication to His people. A few examples are Daniel, Joseph (old testament), Joseph (Mary’s husband) and many others.

The Lord also says in Joel 2:27-29 And ye shall know that I am in midst of Israel, and that I am Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and yours sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon servants and upon handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. He also says in Hebrew 13:8 Jesus Christ same yesterday, and today and forever.

I believe we can ask Lord to use our night seasons for His purposes, to redeem that time for His glory. I can attest to His working in this manner in my life, I know of 3 separate accounts in which He used dreams He gave that actually saved lives. Of course it’s important to decipher those from say “pizza for dinner” dreams.

One of these dreams came 2 nights before my husband was going on an extensive hiking trip into deep wilderness with some other men. In this dream, I saw a man (I couldn’t see identity of this person) fall off a cliff, fall to rocks below and die. I was very concerned to say least, but my dear hubby thought it was just a story because I was worried about him and didn’t want him to go. I KNEW what I had seen in this dream however and that it wasn’t what he thought. I began asking people close to me to be praying for protection over this type of accident and that life would be spared. They faithfully did so.

Once up in wilderness, my husband sort of jokingly told other men to be extra careful because his wife had a dream about one of them falling off a cliff and dying. Later during one of their hikes, it happened. One of men slipped off face of cliff they were climbing and fell several hundred feet to rocks below. My husband was praying while man was falling through air. He miraculously survived! He did go into shock and was pretty banged up, but he sustained no broken bones or any real damage, and ultimately walked out of there on his own next day (they were a 48 hour hike to nearest dirt road). I know God gave this dream to prompt prayer that I believe saved this man’s life. Isn’t He good?