And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.--Mark 16:6, ESV

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!! Our LORD JESUS IS RISEN, and lives forever! 

When Jesus was crucified over 2,000 years ago, the evil and carnal people rejoiced, and the true Christians were filled with sorrow.

Jesus had told His disciples that this would happen, but He assured them that, in the end, they would have joy!

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.--John 16:20, ESV

The LORD turned things around!  He rose again, and lives forever. He will never die! He lives forever to help us know Him and have Heaven on earth, in His Presence!  

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.--Psalm 16:11, ESV

HALLELUJAH! Joy is in His Presence!

So how do we experience His Presence? 

Here's how LORD Jesus says to do it:

 ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.--John 15:7-11, ESV

So here is what I believe He is saying--and He makes it simple, really: "Abide in My Love" (v.9).

What does this mean? The answer is in verse 10: "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."

So to abide in the LOVE of God is to keep His commandments. 

How do we keep His commandments? First, we must know what the Word of God says. Then we must apply the Scriptures the LORD shows us to use for our situation(s) and read them, speak them, write them; believe them--for His Word is always working to accomplish God's will, where it is sent!

¹⁰ For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.--Isaiah 55:10-11, AMPC

Most hard-copy Bibles have an index, where you can look up subjects using key words, to find Scriptures applicable for your need. Otherwise, it's fast and easy to do a search online, and usually come up with multiple versions of the Bible to find the Scripture(s) you need.

(www.biblegateway.com and www.blueletterbible.org are excellent free resources to explore the all-powerful Word of God!) 

This crazy, messed-up world is full of sorrow--and wants to put sorrow on us. However, we true Believers in Christ have Joy inside of us, for Jesus is our Joy! He is the Holy Spirit, and all the fruit of His Spirit includes joy!

Let's focus on joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit, listed in Galatians 5:22 and 23: ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Joy is different than happiness. 

Happiness is a temporary condition of feeling good.

Joy is eternal; part of the LORD Jesus Himself!

So how does LORD Jesus say (and He never lies! He is the Truth and everything good!) 

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.--John 14:6, ESV

Quick Prayer: LORD Jesus, You are my joy. Because I have believed in and received You as my LORD and Savior, You live in my heart. So because I have You, I do have love, peace, joy, and all the other fruits of the Spirit! Help me to yield to You, LORD; to Your joy, and the rest of the fruit, so I will experience more of Your sweet Presence, and others will see You in me and be drawn to You! I know You are coming soon. Thank You for Your help LORD! I love You! In Your Name, amen! 

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.