Making Our Souls Happy in the Lord

When we think about the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) we can often conceive of ourselves as doing fairly well in a number of areas, by God’s grace. One area that can be overlooked is the second on the list, namely, joy. To some Christians this may seem like a rather unimportant reality, particularly if they are working hard to dutifully obey the Lord. Nevertheless, we are told by Paul, numerous times in Philippians, to rejoice in the Lord. This is not mere icing on the proverbial cake of Christianity, it is an essential part. Joy rooted deeply in God will allow us to face difficulties, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, no matter the cost, because we are satisfied in Him.

As such, we must ask ourselves what strategies we are utilizing to be sure that our joy is deeply rooted in the Lord. One quote that gripped me years ago came from the pen of George Mueller. We asserted that the first and greatest business of the day as we arose in the morning was to regain our joy in God above all else. While the quote does not reflect this (perhaps in a subsequent post), Mueller was clear that the way this occurred was through prayer and the Word. Many of us are in the habit of doing this each day, but perhaps this quote from Mueller will push our motivations and goals in a slightly different direction than they are presently. May we be so satisfied with God that the world’s temptations and difficulties hold no sway over us as we deny self and follow Jesus with passion and joy.

According to my judgement the most important point to be attended to is this: above all things see to it that your souls are happy in the Lord. Other things may press upon you, the Lord’s work may even have urgent claims upon your attention, but I deliberately repeat, it is of supreme and paramount importance that you should seek above all things to have your souls truly happy in God Himself! Day by day seek to make this the most important business of your life. This has been my firm and settled condition for the last five and thirty years. For the first four years after my conversion I knew not its vast importance, but now after much experience I specially commend this point to the notice of my younger brethren and sisters in Christ: the secret of all true effectual service is joy in God, having experimental acquaintance and fellowship with God Himself.

Jeremy Kimble (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at Cedarville University. He is an editor for Credo Magazine as well as the author of That His Spirit May Be Saved: Church Discipline as a Means to Repentance and Perseverance and numerous book reviews. He is married to Rachel and has two children, Hannah and Jonathan.