Running Over or Drying Up?

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"When my cup runneth over with joy,
When my cup runneth over with joy.
I find it easy to pray, and to sing all the day
When my cup runneth over with joy.

When my cup is all empty and dry.
When my cup is all empty and dry.
I find it so hard to pray, and to sing all the day,
When my cup is all empty and dry."

(Author Unknown)

Joy.

When we left the two-story white house at the foot of a Tennessee hill last Friday, all 17 of us with cars packed and ready to hit the road, my mom encouraged us to take joy with us.  "Take the joy," she said, "even in the midst of sadness, take joy home with you."

It's an oxymoron that I suppose those who don't know the Savior may not understand - having joy in your heart when life circumstances give you every reason to be sad and hopeless.

But because we have the Holy Spirit living within us, we can have unexplainable peace, an eternal hope, and joy springing up in our soul.

How do I lose my joy?  When I don't focus on God.  Psalm 16:11 says, "...in thy presence is fullness of joy..."   I'm going to find joy when I'm spending time in God's presence and resting in His promises.  Reading and meditating on His Word will keep me from drying up spiritually.

And when I need courage to face my difficulty, I can recall Nehemiah 8:10 and the words, "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  The joy He provides gives me inner fulfillment in spite of outward chaos.

Today let's allow the joy of the Lord to fill our souls and overflow to others!