God is the most joy-filled being who exists. This may seem like an obvious statement to make, but for many religious practice has been sucked dry of all joy and only involves strict adherence to a moral code of rules and regulations. Many of us have lost our connection with joy and don't know the way to find it again. Meditation, contemplation, faith and awareness offer us an ancient pathway back into joy.
Joy is the essence of the being of God. It's clearly not his only attribute but because God is perfect and holy in every way there is a great joy, delight and happiness in his heart. No sin, no evil, no fault or flaw can be found in the being of God. The joy of God is first and foremost a joy in himself and the perfections of His own being. We can see this community of joy within the Being of God when we look at the Trinity and the relationships shared between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Father describes Jesus as his "beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17) and "my servant in whom my soul delights" (Isaiah 42:1). Jesus came first and foremost to please His Father and to do his Father's will. This was demonstrated by his life, teaching, death and resurrection during His time on earth when he did his Father's bidding. It was His joy to do so. And there has always been this joy filled relationship of delight between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Through the power of the cross and blood of Christ we are invited to share in the joy of our Lord. Through the gift of redemption and salvation in Christ we are fully justified and stand before our Father clothed in the righteousness of Christ. When our Father looks at us he sees the righteousness of Christ and he accepts us and receives us because of the righteousness of Christ which has been credited to us. This gospel which saves by grace releases great joy in the hearts of believers because we are taken from a position of being lost sinners to a new identity as much loved and adopted children of God. But the greatest prize the gospel offers to us is God himself. That is why I invite you through the resources on this website to reconnect with the joy of who God is - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is fully God and brings the joy of heaven and the kingdom of God into the human heart. The Spirit can only live in the hearts of the redeemed children of God and this indwelling opens up the possibility of the deepest levels of intimacy because we are united with Christ and one with him in spirit. This is the gateway into the meditation and contemplation of God which is far more than a cerebral pursuit. Both mind and heart can be engaged with God in awareness through the indwelling Spirit. It is with these remarkable blessings of the gospel in mind that I invite you to wade out deeper into the reality of who God is through prayer, meditation and contemplative practices. May you know the blessing, love and joy of encountering the living God in the depths of your heart through the Holy Spirit. May you know more and more the joy of being in fellowship and union with the God who is an eternal fountain of Joy which will never run dry.
Richard H H Johnston
Director, Christian Mindfulness, Christian Contemplation and Christian CBT
© Richard H H Johnston
Both the Christian Mindfulness and Christian Contemplation resources offer crafted meditations designed to help you encounter God and grow in relationship with Him. See here for more details.