joy

JOY - my word for 2012.
I didn't want to choose a word of the year because it is the trendy thing to do.
I have spent some time in God's Word, seeking His will.
My prayer has been to seek His will for me in 2012.
I kept getting the word "joy".

Initially, that's a fun and exciting word.  And then I began to meditate.
Joy.  That doesn't equate to "happy".
Happiness is dependent on a situation, my mood, my hormones, my finances, my kids' behavior.  You get it.
Joy, on the other hand, is the contentment found in salvation.  The knowledge that I will spend eternity with Jesus.  The heart knowledge that God has everything under control when my situation, mood, hormones, finances, etc don't "feel happy".
As a Christian, I should experience joy regardless of what's going on around me.
Ouch.
I must admit, I let a whole lot of other things cloud my mind and my heart.  I look to people, things, money, even the weather, to give me joy.  You see, I was mistaking happiness for joy.

The Lord reminded me of David's words in Psalm 51 - "restore to me the JOY of my salvation."  That's it!  It is the salvation God has provided me that is the source of my joy.  And He will restore it if I seek after Him, if I cry out to Him.

I'm super, duper excited for 2012.
I must admit, the first week of 2012 left me with a whole lot of trepidation as I thought about joy versus happiness.  Does this mean I have to learn to experience joy when things around me aren't good?  Maybe.
But I want the refiner's fire to purify me.
I want the joy of my salvation restored.
I want to experience true joy and not situational happiness.

There are well over 200 scriptures containing the word "joy". 
That means I can do all sorts of studying and memorizing.
I'm excited for the new heart knowledge God will give me through His word!