“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

Most of us are not happy in our Christian life. This is hard to admit because of the great promises of Jesus about the present, available abundant life. But most of us aren’t experiencing that kind of abundance. Why?

One reason is we believe that joy is found from the inside out, not the outside in. We believe that we are to look inside for what makes us happy and then our actions should pursue what it is we want on the inside. “Follow your dreams.” “Always be true to yourself.” This is not bad advice, in some circumstances, but in general, these admonitions make joy periodic and transient. Mostly this advice just leaves us restless.

But Jesus says that joy comes from the outside in, not the inside out. Because joy is a product of His words in us, and, prayerfully, taking God at His word, acting upon it, and seeing Him confirm His words.

His words in us. And His promises prayerfully acted upon.  That is where joy flows. This is the point of John 15:9-11.

So if you are not experiencing joy right now look at the words that are in you, and the promises you are acting upon.  Are the words in you status updates, twitter feeds, and media? All of these have their place, and are not evil, but if this is the substance of the words that enter your life, your joy will be connected to a vine that has been cut off from the root.

But as God’s word enters are hearts, we learn His promises and desires. Then we are able to act upon the things He guarantees. That is the joy Jesus had — living in His Father’s words and presence, and acting upon His Father’s desires — and that is the joy that Jesus gives to us.