Day 1
Memory Verse – Isaiah 35:10 And those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Read Isaiah 55
Joy is not the same as happiness. I know that most of us know this, at least deep down. But do we really understand it? Happiness is based on what is happening in our lives. In fact, the old word hap means chance, luck, or fortune. If what is happening in our lives is good, we are happy! If our luck is down, we are unhappy.
Joy is more. Way more. Joy is present despite circumstances. In fact, the Hebrew word Simcha implies you have a choice – you can choose to be glad and rejoice, even in the worst circumstances. It is actually two words put together – sim, which is the imperative for put, and cha, which means laughter. So joy means to “put on laughter!”
The apostle Paul took this imperative to heart, and he encouraged the church in Philippi to do the same.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
This last verse is often taken out of context and used to assert that we can tackle any situation with the Lord’s strength. But look at what Paul is saying that he can do with the Lord’s help here: he is saying that he can manage to be content despite his worst circumstances with the help of Jesus! Really? Is that what it truly means? Well, verse four would say, yes! That is exactly what he means. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. We are joyful in spite of our haps.
After encouraging God’s people to find satisfaction in the things of the Lord and to seek Him, Isaiah lets us know that the result is joy that the Lord brings!
Isaiah 55:12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.