Co-Ed Bible Study: Joy vs Happiness

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Nehemiah 8:10 said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

 

What Is the Joy of the Lord?

When Ezra was reading the law to the people it produced sorrow because their lives and behavior were not in alignment with the law. 

Alignment is so important: proper positioning - purpose - 

God - Family - Friends - Business/Work, other

 

What does it mean to be in alignment with God? It is when our hearts are right with God, where our spirits, souls, and bodies work together in peace and harmony. We are three-part beings; spirit, soul, and body. When we are aligned with God, the spirit rules the soul and body.

 

Jesus loves us and welcomes us as we are!

But instead of being rebuked and condemned, they were instructed to celebrate because of “the joy of the Lord.” Why would the Lord have joy when they were “a bunch of sinners?”

 

The children of Israel were never known for their perfect behavior. They were known for being the people of God. They were His. He loved them.

 

His people had been separated from Him in exile for years and were finally reunited to Him. God had His beloved people back — why would He not have joy? 

The joy of the Lord gives us strength to reach for God’s provision of love and salvation.

What season are you in – Ecclesiates 3 – there is a time and season

If you’ve been caught in a season of disappointment or struggles, maybe you’ve lost your joy, and as a result, laughter is a rare occurrence. 

You’ve likely heard the old adage that laughter is the best medicine. That happens to come from the Bible! Proverbs 17:22 is true—a merry heart really does a spirit, soul and body good like medicine. 

There are spiritual, emotional and physical benefits of joy and laughter. Science has proven why the Bible tells us to laugh—it’s good for our health! Laughter reduces stress, fights against depression and sorrow, fosters a positive outlook on life, and puts you in an all-around good mood. Laughter also lowers blood pressure, and impacts the cells in your body, preventing disease and setting you up to live long and strong

If you don’t laugh enough (that means every day!), or if you need to restore the joy in your life, begin today by renewing your mind: Find the word - scripture to back you up! –

Joy - Jar - Go to scriptures list:

1. Genesis 21:6: “And Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.’”
2. Job 8:21: “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”
3. Psalm 2:4: “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.”
4. Psalm 30:11: “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”
5. Psalm 37:13: “But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.”
6. Psalm 42:5: “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again.”
7. Psalm 65:12-13: “The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!”
8. Psalm 96:12: “Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
9. Psalm 98:4: “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!”
10. Psalm 126:2: “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’” 
11. Proverbs 15:13: “A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.”
12. Proverbs 15:15: “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”
13. Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
14. Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
15. Ecclesiastes 3:4: “A time to cry and a time to laugh.”
16. Ecclesiastes 8:15: “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”
17. Isaiah 55:12: “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!”
18. Jeremiah 31:13: “The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.”

Everybody Laugh and walk with the joy of the Lord.

Remember to laugh

***Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.