Some of the most interesting books in the world are the ones that are the oldest. The ones that are falling apart and faded and torn. My boyfriend's mom let me borrow this book titled, "Greatest Thing In the World." I don't know when it was written but the inside note on the front page it said it was given to Mabel Hansen on April 22, 1923. So I am assuming that it is a pretty old book. The book starts out about discussing and analyzing the "Love Chapter" in I Corinthians 13 which is amazing and I will post about later... but the book goes on to talk about Joy- which is what I want to talk about now.
How does someone attain the feeling of Joy? I just wanted to quote this part of the book because there the author describes it so well..... "Where does Joy come from? I knew a Sunday scholar whose conception of Joy was that it was a thing made in lumps and kept somewhere in Heaven, and that when people prayed for it, pieces were somehow let down and fitted into their souls.... No one can get Joy by merely asking for it. It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits must be grown." I cannot pray for Joy or ask for Joy. I must choose to GROW Joy. I must choose to plant Joy in my life and choose to be joyful in all situations. Some people may have never planted a seed of Joy their whole lives... either that or they planted a small seed, but have never learned how to grow or mature that seed. Therefore, they make that choice to be without Joy.
I have struggled some in my life in feeling constant Joy. And this book has helped me realize that Joy is not something you can simply pray for or receive- it is something you choose yourself to have.. something that you must "plant inside" and water, and feed, and help develop each and every day. The Lord wants us to grow and develop His true Joy.
