Spiritual Joy!

Spiritual Joy! (by Octavius Winslow)  Spiritual joy is a holy, sensitive plant. It shrinks from the rude, ungentle touch; from every influence uncongenial with its heaven born nature. Watch it with sleepless vigilance; shield it with every hallowed defense. There are many hostile influences to which it is exposed, any one of which will seriously injure it. Temptation courted, sin tampered with, worldliness indulged, the creature idolized, means of grace slighted, Christ undervalued. Any one of these things will dampen your joy, and cause it to shrink, and compel it to retire. But nothing will sooner or more effectually do this than looking away from the Object and Source of joy, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is everything in Christ to make you a joyful Christian. There is all redundance of grace to subdue your corruptions, an overflowing sympathy to soothe your sorrows, a sovereign efficacy in His blood to cleanse your guilt, infinite resources to meet all your needs, His ever encircling presence around your path, His ceaseless intercession on your behalf in heaven. His loving attention of all you feel, and fear, and need. Oh, is this not enough to make your heart a constant sunshine, and your life a pleasant psalm?