by Tammy Phillips
June 5, 2021
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD!
My soul shall be joyful in my God!
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks [himself] with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns [herself] with her jewels. (Isa 61:10 NKJV)
Can God be taken away from us? As followers of Christ, absolutely not! He is always with us. Can joy be taken away? Isaiah 61:7 tells us that everlasting joy is ours. Our Savior did not die for us to be miserable. Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” (John 10:10 AMP)
Joy is a choice purposefully made. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a fruit of our great and good God. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines joys as a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. Joy is an unshakable, inflexible, steadfast, unwavering, determined, immovable, uncompromising understanding, knowledge, and assurance that good is ours from God. Joy is the knowing that “all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28 CSB)
The prophet chose resolute joy in Isaiah 61:10, he made the determination twice to delight in the Lord. Isaiah said, “I will…” and “My soul shall…”
James tells us to believe it a great joy whenever we experience various trials. (James 1:2). We must make the same choice of resolute joy and determine to say…
“When tragedy comes, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.”
“When offense comes, my soul shall be joyful in my God.”
“When sickness comes, I will greatly rejoice in God my Healer.”
“When death comes, my heart knows and my soul shall be joyful in God, my Deliverer.”
“When the world is spinning out of control, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. He’s got it!”
When various trials come, we do not have to give up joy. We do not have to get upset. It is our choice. Our joy is in the Lord. Our joy is from God alone and it is our strength according to Nehemiah 8:10. The joy of the Lord transforms “all things” to good.
Isaiah illustrates reason why we should not rejoice, but greatly rejoice in the Lord. Our souls were naked and ashamed, as a result of our sin.
BUT GOD!
He has clothed us with the garments of salvation. He has dressed our naked and afraid souls with everything we need to stand strong, bold, and courageous in Him. He has dressed us from head to toe with the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, and our feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace! “I will great rejoice in the Lord.” He has dressed us in garments of salvation, deliverance, safety, welfare, healing, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, liberty, freedom, and victory! “I will great rejoice in the Lord!”
BUT GOD!
He does not stop with wrapping us in His salvation. He then covers us with the robe of righteousness. Only Christ is righteous. He envelops us with Christ Himself. We are hidden in Him. Our great sins are forgiven by the great goodness of God through the blood of Jesus, our Savior.
This should make us throw-back our shoulders, stand a little taller and a whole lot straighter. We resolutely rejoice in the Lord, hidden deep in His righteousness! The robe of righteousness is so glorious and pure. Isaiah compares it to being a bridegroom decked out as a priest to be used by God and as being adorned as a beautiful bride prepared to marry. Who is more joyful than a bride and groom on their wedding day? What Jesus did for us bought us that kind of joy and it is everlasting. “I choose resolute joy in the Lord!”
When we STOP and remember what the Lord had done or us, everything else dissipates. When we take pause and realize who we are in Him, how can we do anything but rejoice in the Lord?
I enCOURAGE you to choose resolute joy! Everlasting joy is yours in Him. He has clothed you in Himself! Greatly rejoice in the Lord. It is yours for the taking.
Complete in Him 