Abba, Father, may I be open with you for just a few? I love that you named me Joy, and I disdain that you named me Joy. How does that dichotomy work? It is both a blessing and a difficulty that you named me for stubborn recognition of your joy within me. Lord, you tell me to abide in you and let your words and your Spirit abide in me so that your joy will be in me and my joy will be complete. Honestly, sometimes I tire of the comments of “Joy to the world,” “joy’s in the room,” “I got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” It’s a constant expectation that I live up to my name.
When I stop to think about it, Lord, that is not unrealistic. It’s what you want from all of us, right? You desire all of us to show the joy of your salvation. You want all of us to be the light so others ask where our upbeat and unwavering faith comes from. You want all of us to have stubborn, unflinching joy, the joy of the Lord, and not some manufactured feeling.
Plant that deep within me today. Let me come back to this place again and again. Forgive me when I forget what my name is really about. Thank you for the joy of your salvation, and thank you for naming me Joy! I praise you in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11 ESV)