Joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness depends on outward circumstances, but joy comes from within—it is unrelated to our circumstances. The key that unlocks the door to divine power is surrender.

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, "The joy of the LORD is your strength." Since it is a permanent gift from God, we cannot lose it, but we can choose to give it up by disobeying His commands. Sin squeezes the power and joy of the Holy Spirit from our life. Repentance will reopen the floodgate.

--Charles Stanley