I am substituting for Pastor Currie in his Sunday School class this morning, teaching in Philippians 1. Philippians is a great book full of joy and rejoicing, with some form of that word used roughly 12 times (I’m not too good at counting – may be more, may be fewer). Paul prays with joy, he rejoices with the Philippians, he rejoices in suffering, he rejoices in the gospel, he rejoices in everything, always! “Rejoice in the Lord always – again, I say REJOICE!”
The Valley of Vision has a prayer on “Joy”, and it goes like this:
O Christ,
All Thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight.
Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy Thou has sent the Comforter, multiplied Thy promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy, at my work, business, duties.
If I week at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of Thy love, pardon for sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy recipient of Thy grace.
I often disesteem Thy blood and slight Thy love, but can in repentance draw water from the wells of Thy joyous forgiveness.
Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfected for ever, where Thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven, for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels, contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place where none are sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants except to Thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy!from The Valley of Vision, A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.
The Banner of Truth Trust, © 1975
