137. Joy and Peace
Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
The joy of the Lord and the peace of God is a sure promise from the Lord. It comes to us through the Word that comes from the mouth of God. God walks with us with joy and much rejoicing. The Lord leads us daily with peace and calm. This is not a wish or a dream or a hope; it is as certain and sure as God is real. We only hear the Word and believe as the Spirit touches the heart through the ears and eyes. Then we have the Lord with us, who comes with joy and peace.
Joy and peace are actually byproducts of the Lord’s presence and indwelling. We do not seek joy and peace; we seek the Lord and His righteousness in Christ and when God finds us He brings peace and joy along with Him. We do not have to ask for joy and peace; it comes along with God. We do, however, ask for the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in Luke 11:13: “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
How do we ask for the Holy Spirit when He is already here, dwelling in the spirit? Answer: we are really asking for less of me so that there will be more of Him. We ask for the Spirit by using the thought of the Lord’s Prayer, asking for His name, His kingdom and His will, in addition to His bread, His forgiveness and His deliverance. We pray for repentance (getting out of the way) and faith (letting God have His way), which is what the Lord’s Prayer does. When we have more of the Spirit and less of us, we will also have joy and peace ruling the heart.
By the way, the mountains and trees (all of nature) rejoice with singing and clapping along with us. There is not only joy in heaven when one sinner repents; there is also joy and peace on earth in nature. All creation waits with eager longing for the redemption of human beings, the adoption of sons. If we could only hear the angels and the trees and hills we would never be joyless again or lack peace ever.