There’s a delicious gladness that comes from God. A joy which consequences cannot quench.  His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.

Nine times he promises it.  And he promises it to an unlikely crowd: The poor in spirit. Those who mourn. The meek. Those who hunger and thirst.  The merciful. The pure in heart. The peacemakers. The persecuted. It is to this band of pilgrims that God promises a special blessing. A heavenly joy.

But this joy is not cheap. What Jesus promises is not a gimmick to give you goose bumps or a mental attitude. No, Matthew Chapter 5 describes God’s radical reconstruction of the heart. It’s no casual shift of attitude. It’s a demolition of the old structure and a creation of the new.

God’s joy.  And it’s within your reach.  You are one decision away from joy!

From The Applause of Heaven