Your Joyful Heart is a Weapon to Fight for Your Joy
We fight for joy with the weapon of a joyful heart. There’s no question we live in a world that wants to steal our joy. Cynicism, circumstance, doubt, and negative self-talk are on the prowl for the believer’s joyful heart. And the amazing thing is that the joyful heart is the very weapon needed in that fight.
A Weapon in the Battle
In February I wrote about 7 things that Scripture tells us about joy. You can see that the final three go hand in hand:
- Joy Must Be Fought For
- Joy is a Weapon
- The Joy of the Lord is our Strength
More often than not, joy is a choice. Essentially, we can choose to be joyful. We can lay hold of it, or we can discard it and choose to be swallowed by something else. A strong dichotomy? Maybe. But I want to tell you that the weapon of a joyful heart is one that is stronger than most others. To express joy is to win.
To express joy is to win. Share on XThe Song of Joy
I believe one of the chief reasons Scripture instructs and encourages us to sing is that song is a powerful weapon. It is light that pushes back the darkness that wars for our souls. Melody makes aggressive waves against evil forces. After all, what thing could confuse and infuriate the enemy more than the hopeful song of a child of God?
The believer's song is light that pushes back the darkness. Share on XMusic has the power to open us up to things beyond ourselves, and to unlock places inside of us that have been hidden. Because the movement of melody and rhythm help to unearth emotions and cement lyrics in our minds and hearts in a way nothing else can. That’s why we often remember Sunday’s songs better than sermons. Their words of truth swirl around our heads with melody and arm us for defence against lies and discouragement. And as we let the song pour out of our mouths, we wield a weapon of hope against despair.
Please hear me: A joyful heart expressed in song is not just for the singer. Our celebrity culture has convinced so many that singing is only for the elite. But, singing is an absolute necessity for every believer. When you regularly pour yourself out in songs to the Lord, you will not easily give in to sin.
When you regularly pour yourself out in songs to the Lord, you will not easily give in to sin. Share on XA joyful song will strengthen you against temptation and discouragement, self-exaltation and hopelessness.
Sing!
If you are happy, sing your joy.
When you are suffering, sing your need.
If you are tempted to sin, sing your dependence.
When you have sinned, sing your confession.
If you are weak, sing your strength.
When you are forgiven, sing your freedom.
Unusual Warfare
We see the weapon of a joyful heart winning the battle in the story of King Jehoshaphat, found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-29. A formidable army declared war on his people, and he knew it spelled inevitable disaster. King Jehoshaphat stood before his people and praised the Lord, declaring his hope in God’s protection. And then God gave him some unusual instructions: He said that Jehoshaphat needed to put the singers at the front of his army as they went to battle. Their sole purpose was to sing praises to God and rejoice! With the song in front, God said that Jehoshaphat’s army wouldn’t even need to fight!
Jehoshaphat’s response to God in that moment was to bow low in worship. And all of his people stood and praised God with a loud shout. In that moment, their praise was the voice of their inner joy – their trust in God. And God’s unusual strategy proved victorious! The weapon of joy defeated the oncoming army. The enemy army was confused. They turned against one another and destroyed themselves! King Jehoshaphat’s victory was only attributable to facing opposition and darkness with a joyful heart in joyful song.
Find it. Learn it. Sing it. Win.
So we need to arm ourselves for battle. If hopeful song from a joyful heart is a weapon against despair and hopelessness, cynicism and self-exaltation, how do we find songs to learn and sing in our everyday lives? Hopefully your arsenal is being filled every weekend in your worship services. I want to give you a great list of songs to download or stream. I’ll help you find them. Then you can learn them, sing them, and WIN with joy!
Few writers these days war with joy as well as Rend Collective. Their essence of sung faith is celebration and hope. Their heart cry is to push back the darkness with joyful song. Check out The Art of Celebration
Lyrics like “We cast aside our shadows, trust You with our sorrows,” will be prepare you to push back the dark with joyful hearts! I guarantee your soul will lift.
Travis Ryan is another artist gifted to bring strong songs of hope. Check out Until My Voice Is Gone
There are SO many awesome songs that we can use to make the soundtrack of our lives as we bring God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Paring down a list of recommendations is an incredible challenge! But here is a free printable of some awesome songs for war. I hope these encourage you, lift your soul, and undergird your joyful heart.
What about you? What songs are your weapons of joy? Share in the comments below!
Elizabeth Joy
Kristi Joy Russell
April 25, 2017
Spirit Move- Kalley Heiligenthal
Elizabeth
April 25, 2017
Awesome!!
Val
April 25, 2017
Fearless, by Jasmine Murry.
Elizabeth
April 25, 2017
I’ll look that one up! 😊
Dianne Hill
April 26, 2017
I know I’m old fashioned. But Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah is my ‘go to’ hymn of joy.
Elizabeth
April 26, 2017
That’s not old fashioned! Some of the older hymns are rich in joy lyrics! My favorite is “And Can It Be”.
Kathy Lytle
April 26, 2017
Selah’s “I Got Saved” is mine that brings me focus on Him.
Elizabeth
April 26, 2017
Yes!!! It’s in my mind a lot!!
Liz Rigby
April 26, 2017
Wonderful! Music is the number one way I’m able to keep my mind on Him throughout the day….I can’t wait to check out the songs on this graphic! One of my favorite God-power songs is Maker of Miracles by Austin and Lindsey Adamec 🎶
Elizabeth
April 26, 2017
Excellent!! I love getting new suggestions. Thanks Liz!
Wanda Killam
April 27, 2017
Thank you ,Elizabeth Joy ,songs are definitely my weapons of joy.So so thankful ,my years singing in the choir were the best ,I had so many praise songs in my head ,and lots of times as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning ,God would fill my head with words of praise from a song .I can name so many songs that are my weapons of joy ,but I’ll just mention the two that I sing all the time lately,and God has used mightily .Faithful One and What a Beautiful Name .Thanks again .Joyfully ,Wanda
Elizabeth
April 27, 2017
I remember singing in that choir too! It was such a blessing. So glad to hear how you fight for joy with joy too!
Val
April 28, 2017
This is one of my favorite posts. I have several friends and a few family members who struggle to hold on to joy. Some days they don’t have it, or the will to seek it. I love the suggestions of how to find and pursue joy. Today, on my way to work, I thanked God for you and this wonderful forum. I’m so thankful for you.
Elizabeth
April 28, 2017
In seasons I’ve felt defeated, I’ve often prayed for the want to want something. This can be true for joy when we don’t even have the will to seek it out. It’s amazing the miracles God can do in our hearts to give us desires that line up with His heart. Thank you for your encouragement, Val!
Alyssa
July 7, 2017
My current favorite song is Still by Hillary Scott! I can belt that sucker out!
Elizabeth
July 7, 2017
Awesome!! Thanks for the suggestion!!
Jill
July 8, 2017
LOVE to sing and praise Him in joyful and less than joyful times! Many familiar but some unfamiliar songs on your list, I’ll definitely be checking out. Thanks as always for sharing your joy with us Elizabeth!
Elizabeth
July 8, 2017
So glad you found something new here. Our praise is powerful!
Lindsay
February 15, 2018
This is how I fight my battles
Joy in surrender
Fear not
Take courage
Jesus is willing
I just want to worship
Elizabeth
February 15, 2018
Love this! Thank you for sharing, Lindsay!
DanielGAw
October 5, 2024
thank you very much _________________ скачать игровые слоты демо