Eugene Peterson – “The enormous entertainment industry in our land is a sign of the depletion of joy in our culture.”

[Psalm 16:7-9]

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

Joy is a state of being. Happiness is a fleeting emotion.

Eugene Peterson – “Society is a bored, gluttonous king employing a court jester to divert it after and overindulgent meal. But that kind of joy never penetrates our lives, never changes our basic constitution. The effects are extremely temporary-a few minutes, a few hours, a few days at most.”

[Psalm 16:7-8]

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me… My body rests in safety.

Henri Nouwen – “Joy is not the same as happiness. We can be unhappy about many things, but joy can still be there because it comes from the knowledge of God’s love for us.”

[Psalm 16:10-11]

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Joy comes from an overflow of hope.

[John 15:9-11]

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Joy is found when we die to ourselves and come alive in Christ.

[Psalm 16:10-11]

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

[Revelation 1:18]

I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Thomas Watson – “After the fall, the affections were misplaced on wrong objects; in sanctification (or through choosing to follow Jesus), they are turned into a sweet order and harmony, the grief placed on sin, the love on God, the joy on heaven.”

[Revelation 22:20-21]

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy
people.