God's Word on That

  • God Gives Joy

    Godly idea of joy is cheerfulness, delight, gladness; enjoying life. It is too simple to complicate.

    Joy is not something we can create by ourselves. It’s not something we earn or can grasp. And we definitely can’t buy it. Joy is a gift; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes from surrendering ourselves to God and His will for our lives. (Amanda Zurface)

    Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all people (Luke 2:10).

    He… fills your hearts with joy (Acts 14:17).

    He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy (Job 8:21).

    [O Lord,] You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forever more (Psalm 16:11).

    These I will bring to My Holy Mountain and I will give them joy… (Isaiah 56:7)

    But be glad and rejoice in what I will create!  For behold, I will create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.  I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people… (Isaiah 65:18-19)

    Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart… (Isaiah 65:14)

    Instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion… everlasting joy will be theirs (Isaiah 61:7).

    And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen ones with gladness and singing (Psalm 105:43).

    You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest… (Isaiah 9:3)

    They will come and shout for joy to the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord…  I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow (Jeremiah 31:12-13).

    I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will ever sing for joy (Psalm 132:16).

    Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good… (Jeremiah 32:41)

    As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:5).

    Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues with songs of joy…  The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:2-3).

    And on that day they… rejoiced because God had given them great joy…  So the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar (Nehemiah 12:43).

    [Our Father] is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy… (Jude 1:24)

    For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight… (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

  • Study On Joy

    To increase your joy seek God’s presence.  Your joy is a gift from God to you – if you lose it, it is your job to find it, and not let it escape again.  Depression, sickness, despair – most any problem can be overcome with remembering our joy.  Our singing can shut the devil up and drive him away.  Make a joyful noise!  Even if you can’t sing, God will like it.

    Creation expresses joy.

    Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, the Lord reigns! (1 Chronicles 16:31)

    Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice … then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy (Psalm 96:11-12).             

    Sing, O Heavens, for the Lord has done it!  Shout you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains… (Isaiah 44:23)

    Shout joyfully to God, all the Earth! (Psalm 66:1)

    Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord (Psalm 98:6).

    Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness.  Come before Him with joyful singing (Psalm 100:1-2).

    Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises (Psalm 98:4).

    Let the nations be glad and sing for joy… (Psalm 67:4)

    Sing for joy to God our Strength; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob (Psalm 81:1).

    Shout for joy, O Heavens!  And rejoice, O Earth!  Break forth into joyful shouting, O Mountains! (Isaiah 49:13)

    Burst into songs of joy together… for the Lord has comforted His people… (Isaiah 52:9)

    Therefore rejoice, you Heavens! … (Revelation 12:12)

    The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy! (Job 38:7)

    You make the dawn and sunset shout for joy! (Psalm 65:8)

    I [wisdom] was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence; rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind (Proverbs 8:30-31).

  • Our Calling Is To Peace

    Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of the Spirit in the binding power of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

    Be at peace and strive to live in harmony with one another (Mark 9:50).

    For God has called us to peace(1 Corinthians 7:15).

    So far as it is up to you, live at peace with everyone( Romans 12:18).

    Remind the people… to be peaceable and considerate… (Titus 3:1-2)

    Live in peace with one another (1 Thessalonians 5:13).

    All [Wisdom’s] paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17).

    Pursue peace with everyone… (Hebrews 12:14)

    That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:2).

    The mind set on the spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6).

    Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule… (Galatians6:16)

    A heart of peace gives life to the body… (Proverbs 14:30)

    The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

    Those who walk uprightly enter into peace… (Isaiah 57:2)

    Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright, for the future of that man is peace (Psalm 37:37).

    For the counselors of peace there is joy (Proverbs 12:20).

    Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

    When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7).

    But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11).

    How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace… (Isaiah 52:7)

    Behold on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace… (Nahum 1:15)

    Having shod your fee with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).

    Send him on his way in peace… (1 Corinthians 16:11)

    Yield now and be at peace with Him… (Job 22:21)

    May grace and peace be given you in increasing abundance (1 Peter 1:2).

    To all God’s beloved ones… grace, spiritual blessings, and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7).

    Peace be to the brothers (Ephesians 6:23).

    May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

    The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you His peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

  • The Price to Gain Peace

    And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself [the Father], whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him[the Son], [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His Cross (Colossians 1:20).

    To give knowledge of salvation to His people… To shine upon and to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.  To direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace (Luke 1:77, 79).

    Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things which make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace – your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness – depends)! (Luke 19:42)

    A time of war and a time of peace… (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

    The punishment that brought us peace was put on Him… (Isaiah 53:5)

    Therefore since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as a member of His body you were called to peace… (Colossians 3:15)

    Be like-minded; live in peace.  And the God of love and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11).

    So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another (Romans 14:19).

    Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Peter 3:14).

    Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace (Jeremiah 29:7).

    Render the truth and pronounce the judgment or verdict that makes for peace in [the courts at] your gates (Zechariah 8:16).

    Thus says the Lord of Hosts… love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:19).

    You will go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace… (Isaiah 55:12)

    Glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good… (Romans 2:10)

    And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external]… (Isaiah 32:17)

    You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You (Isaiah 26:3).

    Search for peace and seek it eagerly.  [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] (1 Peter 3:11)

    Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).

    No discipline seems pleasant…  However, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

  • Our God of Peace

    God is not a God of confusion, but of peace… (1 Corinthians 14:33)

    I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth (Jeremiah 33:6).

    I shall also grant peace in the land… (Leviticus 26:6)

    He grants peace to your borders… (Psalm 147:14)

    He will speak the word and peace shall come to the nations… (Zechariah 9:10)

    The abundant prosperity and peace I provide… (Jeremiah 33:9)

    The God of peace [who is the Author and Giver of peace]… (Hebrews 13:20)

    The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet… (Romans 16:20)

    His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government, or of peace… (Isaiah 9:6-7)

    And He will be our peace… (Micah 5:5)

    Behold, I give him My covenant of peace (Numbers 25:12).

    The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (James 3:17-18).

    The Word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).

    For He Himself is our peace…  That in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace… He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near (Ephesians 2:14-17).

    He will be a Priest on His throne and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices [Priest and King] (Zechariah 6:13).

    The Word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).

    Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you… (John 14:27)

    These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have/find peace… (John 16:33)

    Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance… (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

    Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in your believing… (Romans 15:13)

    The peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

    May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through… (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

    Now the God of peace be with you all.  Amen. (Romans 15:33)

  • Study On Peace

    Jesus had a special kind of peace.  He slept during a storm while the disciples fed their fears.  This is the peace He left us before His trial and death.  He thought it of high importance, so it is worth sacrifices in our lives to maintain.  It is more precious than being right.  It is a powerful weapon against thoughts from the devil.  It can save us from turmoil and despair.

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased (Luke 2:14).

    The Lord… will speak peace to His people…  Righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:8, 10). [We have both while we stand with Jesus.]

    For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for calamity (Jeremiah 29:11).

    The Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11).

    Lord, You establish peace for us… (Isaiah 26:12)

    I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant and I will give blessings to them… (Ezekiel 37:26)

    My covenant with him was one of life and peace…  He walked with Me in peace and uprightness… (Malachi 2:5-6)

    Let them take hold of My strength and make complete surrender to My protection, that they may make peace with Me. Yes, let them make peace with Me (Isaiah 27:5).

    He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me… (Psalm 55:18)

    My covenant of peace will not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).

    Let your heart keep My commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you (Proverbs 3:1-2).

    My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest (Isaiah 32:18).

    I will make a covenant of peace with them and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land… (Ezekiel 34:25)

    In this place I shall give peace and prosperity, declares the Lord of Hosts (Haggai 2:9).

    For thus says the Lord: Behold, I will extend peace to [Jerusalem] like a river… (Isaiah 66:12)

    I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler (Isaiah 60:17).

    Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble (Psalm 119:165).

    In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).

  • Patience Has Rewards

    And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! (Isaiah 30:18)

    [God] will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who, by patient persistence in doing good, seek for glory and honor and [the eternal blessings of] immortality, He will give eternal life (Romans 2:6-7).

    Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us…  Just think of Him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds (Hebrews 12:1, 3).

    Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.  May the God who gives both endurance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind… (Romans 15:4-5)

    For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised (Hebrews 10:36).

    Endure hardships as discipline.  God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father? (Hebrews 12:7)

    By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls (Luke 21:19).

    [Let us also be full of joy now!] Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.  And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character (of this sort) produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation (Romans 5:3-4).

    If we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with perseverance (Romans 8:25).

    If we are afflicted… it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer (2 Corinthians 1:6).

    But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

    Make every effort to add to your faith… patient endurance… (2 Peter 1:5-6)

    The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. (2 Timothy 2:24)

    Therefore my dear brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

    As for you keep your head in all situations; endure hardships… (2 Timothy 4:5)

    Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Endure hardships with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3).

    If we endure, we will also reign with Him… (2 Timothy 2:12)

    Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes… (1 Corinthians 4:5)

  • Growing In Patience

    Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus to be revealed (1 Corinthians 1:7).

    Love is patient…  It endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7)

    A man’s wisdom gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11).

    A patient man calms a quarrel (Proverbs 15:18).

    A patient man has great understanding…. (Proverbs 14:29)

    Patience is better than pride (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

    What credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?  But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God (1 Peter 2:20).

    The Lord… is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

    Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

    Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work in you, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing (James 1:3-4).

    As for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).

    So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land.  [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the early and late rains.  So you also must be patient… (James 5:7-8)

    Guard and keep yourselves in the love of God; expect and patiently wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ – [which will bring you] to life eternal (Jude 1:21).

    Correct, rebuke and encourage – being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).

    Urge the older men to be… sound in the faith, in the love, and in the steadfastness and patience [of Christ]. (Titus 2:2)

    As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships, and distresses… in purity, understanding, patience and kindness… (2 Corinthians 6:4-6)

    Therefore as God’s chosen people… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness… and patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. (Colossians 3:12)

    [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy (Colossians 1:11).

    Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

    Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

    We urge you… be patient with all men (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

  • Patience Is Waiting For God

    Therefore, [earnestly] wait for Me, declares the Lord, [waiting] for the day when I rise up… (Zephaniah 3:8)

    The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him…  It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord (Lamentations 3:25-26).

    But as for me, I will look to the Lord and – confident in Him – I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me (Micah 7:7).

    I will wait for the Lord…  I will look for and hope in Him (Isaiah 8:17).

    I wait for You, O Lord… (Psalm 38:15)

    I wait for the Lord; my soul waits.  And in His Word I put my hope (Psalm 130:5).

    I am hoping and waiting [eagerly] for Your salvation, O Lord, and I do [follow] Your commandments (Psalm 119:166).

    Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…  Wait for the Lord and keep His ways… (Psalm 37:7, 34)

    Wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue you (Proverbs 20:22).

    Wait [expectantly] for your God continually (Hosea 12:6).

    In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3).

    I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord, and He inclined His ear to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1).

    Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield (Psalm 33:20).

    Wait and hope for and expect the Lord!  Be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.  Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord (Psalm 27:14).

    Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial… (Revelation 3:10)

    Yes… Lord, we wait [expectantly] for You… (Isaiah 26:8)

  • Study On Patience

    We must learn patience with ourselves, with God, and with our Christian growth.  If you are frustrated, it is because you are not being patient with God.  We must wait; it is how we wait that is the art!  It shows how much we trust Him in our situations.

    Examples of patience

    Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19).

    God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the Ark was being built… (1 Peter 3:20)

    For many years You were patient with them… (Nehemiah 9:30)

    As an example of suffering and patience: take the prophets…  You have heard of the endurance of Job… (James 5:10-11)

    And thus, having patiently waited, [Abraham] obtained the promise (Hebrews 6:15).

    I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus… (Revelation 1:9)

    But I was shown mercy so that in me – the worst of sinners – Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe… (1 Timothy 1:16)

    Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. [Patience and prudence can do the impossible.] (Proverbs 25:15)

    Better a patient man than a warrior; a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32).

    We continually remember… your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

    This is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches of God for you steadfastness (your unflinching endurance and patience) and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are enduring (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

    That you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).

    May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God, and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

    While we wait for the blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

    This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints, who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 14:12).