June 11
Happy believers
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (Psa. 5:11).
“In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psa. 16:11).
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:13).
The prayer is for fullness of joy and peace through believing. There are no happy doubters, no jubilant unbelievers. The highest joy grows on the topmost bough of faith. The seed of joylessness is unbelief. Hence the antidote for a lack of joy, that “fruit of the Spirit,” is a little more faith in Jesus. Faith is the only doorway for God to enter the soul, leading the blessed procession of beatitudes—love, joy, and peace. How many try to admit them through the door of reason and fail. While His truth enters in through this door, He Himself can enter only through the door of faith. He is too large for our logic, but not for our faith.
—Daniel Steele.