Is there is any difference between joyful and joy-filled?
For those of you who love doughnuts, I’ve heard there’s nothing like jelly-filled doughnuts. People who love them, say they are three times better than regular doughnuts. Believers in Christ can either be joyful or joy-filled. Believe it or not, there is a difference.
Today’s verse places joy right after love in the list of nine attributes of the Holy Spirit.
Remember the old hymn’s message, ”
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee Hail Thee as the sun aboveMelt the clouds of sin and sadnessDrive the dark of doubt awayGiver of immortal gladnessFill us with the lightFill us with the lightOh, fill us with the light of day
Joyful means a heart full of joy when everything is going great. Joy-filled is a choice when everything is going right or wrong. The joy of the Lord is our strength. We sing Christmas carols using the word joyful. We use the word joy-filled in association with the joy of the Lord. Joyful is an adjective that describes a feeling of pleasure causing great happiness. It’s more about a feeling.
Joy-filled is a noun denoting a resource we tap into from the vast supply afforded us by the Holy Spirit. Have you ever been around anyone who exhibits the joy-filled life? They exude the joy of the Lord and nothing seems to drain them of this overflowing joy. It comes from the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and cannot be stolen under any circumstance.
I love to be joyful; however, I would rather be joy-filled, overflowing with this second fruit of the Holy Spirit. I want the presence of joy to be noted to everyone in my sphere of influence, to the lost and the saved.
Prayer in Motion:
Jesus, manifest Yourself in me through the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. May the joy of the Lord be my strength. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Devotions In Motion 