And be not grieved and depressed, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold”  – Nehemiah 8:10

 There isn’t anyone that would say noooo to being happy!!. The word ‘Happiness’ itself fills our minds with thoughts of cherished times, laughable moments, possessions acquired, in other words people and things!!.

Joy unlike happiness is not at all dependent on external factors.

Joy” is the manner/ attitude of the heart.

‘Joy’ in the Bible is one of the “Fruit” “of the Holy Spirit” Galatians5:22).It come after Love and before Peace. Since it is something that comes from within, it has to first be received, then accepted, then understood.

I believe that Joy comes after Love cause when you Learn to Love Unconditionally, Give Love Unconditionally you have reached a height of maturity where you don’t have to depend on being around people all the time to be comforted, fear being alone, fear what others think of you, or how much you matter or are liked by another. Most or lets say, Majority of one’s problems seems to begins when one is ‘Expecting’ around individuals to be, behave , say, to/towards one in a way acceptable only to one. When that does not happen, grief and depression manifests

You Learn to Love Unconditionally when you “CHOOSE” To Depend / Rely on God “Alone” and Total Dependence means being completely “Reliant” to him.

It’s worth the price to pay. I say price cause at times you need to separate and completely be secluded from the ‘dependent to people happiness syndrome’ to Learn Joy.

 When you grasp the mind-set of Joy, the way you look at ‘YOU’, Your Life, Your Surroundings, all seems to stand out in beautiful eye catching colors.

Colors that bring you Peace, Delight and colors no one can ever shade.

 ‘Joy’ grows from a seed, which when watered with The Word , Praise, Worship & Prayer blooms into power filled Stronghold Roots, that will forever remain strongly rooted as you continuously water it and No one in the World can ever tear it down.

The Growth Begins “Within You” and the Withering is Only Possible “By You”.  🙂