3 phases of joy
“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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15: 10-12, ESV)
3 phases of joy
I saw 3 phases of joy released to us by Christ’s finished work on the cross.
The first one was a bursting forth like a balloon being filled with air to the overfilling. Then these overstretched sides were pulled back to make more space until it just bursts open. The joy that comes forth is like the energy level and excitement of a pouncing, jumping puppy.
The second phase or manifestation was like giant drops of glory, a white-golden glowing substance that dripped from the ceiling. It swelled and filled the drop to the point it looked ready to burst. These big drops of glory were meant to be stood under and to be pulled down to consume them and bring them into your being to receive all of it and to leave nothing behind.
The third phase was a resting in floating on joy and glory of salvation. I saw myself floating on my back, flowing down a river head first with no vision of what was to come. I understood I would never stay in the same spot and I would always flow, forward. I saw a waterfall and without fear, I flowed over the edge. I understood there isn’t an end to the movement forward until you die. When this happens, it’s like a birth into something beyond.
I sat with all of this for a moment, struggling to make sense of it all. I reasoned that these must be like seasons that occur during certain times of our lives. Like a progression of sorts, when you had accomplished all in one phase, then you would move to the next.
The Lord interrupted my thoughts to give me the real interpretation. “The 3 phases of joy are not phases that you move through and are done. These can occur within milliseconds of each other. People need to learn to live in the fullness of the moment. The fullness of the joy of their salvation without searching for the next progression, but receive all from what is in front of them.
It is true the first one most closely represents the initial joy of salvation moment but also is seen when specific breakthroughs occur in your life. Allowing all that joy to penetrate to the depth of you provides strength for the next steps, or assignments, in your life.
The second dripping vision is for equipping and is done throughout your life, sometimes multiple times a day. It is a great covering in the joy of the Lord to combat discouragement and the lies of the enemy. You cannot simply lay down and passively have the joy drip on you. You need to actively stand up and pull down and consume the fullness of the joy.
The third vision is the flowing in the river of the joy of the Lord, where there will be unexpected drop-offs, but there is peace there in the flow. There are active and passive movements during this time in the joy. Listen to the Spirit to know when to move and when to rest.”
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“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)
I struggled with this concept, attempting to work it into my current mindset. When I discovered it couldn’t be done, I had to make a choice. I needed to repent and kick out old, hindering mindsets to receive this new understanding. I couldn’t receive the new, while holding on to the old.
I repented of self-reliance, desire to control and manipulate circumstances and people, harsh judgment of myself and others, and unrealistic expectations for myself and others. To be honest, this spring cleaning of my mind got kind of painful. But ultimately I know God’s way is better, every time and without fail.
How are you at receiving God’s joy?
Have you experienced these three phases of joy in your life?
Prayer for you and me:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your joy. You take us out of the drudgery and pain of this world and show us a glimpse of heavenly living. Lord, please forgive us for trying to control Your gift of joy. Help us consume and bring into our daily lives all that You have to give. Grant us grace to let go of the desire to control and progress in a way that makes sense to us. Instead, let us live in the place of receiving joy and love of the Lord without fighting it. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
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