Fruitful Living With Courtnaye RichardSample

Day Two – Living a Life of Love and Joy

For starters, have you ever wondered what is love, really? According to Dictionary.com, the word “love” is defined as a profoundly tender and sometimes passionate affection for another, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection as a parent, child, or friend. One day, I remember asking the Lord during my devotional time, “Father, what is love from a biblical perspective?” Shortly thereafter, He led me to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that explained it very plainly.

It read, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

For a moment, look back at the definition and passage above, while pausing and considering each attribute. When you do, you'll discover exactly how to live out love in your relationships, home, church, and city. When we know what love is both naturally and spiritually, it helps us to work in partnership with the Holy Spirit to live it out in action. The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:18, “Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in action and truth.” So as Christ followers and children of God, let's live a life of love in action!

Now let’s shift to living a life of joy. The term “joy” actually means a feeling of great pleasure and a source of delight. When you choose to live a joyful life, it can be contagious! Others around you will see it and want that same type of exuberance in their own lives and even testify about it. I’ll never forget the day when someone introduced me to a friend and said, “She’s the joyful one!” That blessed me so much because I wasn’t always a joyful person.

During one season of my adult life (when I was pregnant with my last child), I started experiencing complications during my pregnancy. My doctor immediately placed me on bedrest for the remaining six months until my delivery day. It was during that time when the Lord began teaching me about the importance of learning and living out the fruit of the Spirit. So, while I laid in bed with nowhere to go, I learned all about how to live a fruitful life and this included the fruit of joy!

I want to encourage you that as you grow in godly character, remember that loving God and loving people are big to God. Know that when you're going through a hard test or trial in your life, count it all joy, because God is maturing you. And don't forget that the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Again, we are not alone in the process of spiritual growth and maturity. The Holy Spirit will produce love and joy in our lives.