Cultivating Joy
Joy in My Heart
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.
- George William Cooke, I’ve Got the Joy
At the risk of having this song now stuck in your head for the next few hours, we want to remind you of some of the lyrics, which are very popular with children of all ages:
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
I've got the peace that passeth understanding,
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart, …
I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
Down in my heart, (Where?)
Down in my heart, …
It’s hard to sing this song without feeling joyful, and maybe that's the point.
There are a few other nuggets of wisdom about joy in this song. First, joy is not something found “out there” but is found deep inside. Where? Deep in our hearts! The second verse reminds us that joy and peace are deeply connected. And the third verse reminds us that as people of faith, the source of our joy is God's love is manifested in Jesus.
May this song help us cultivate some joy in our hearts today, and may it connect us more deeply with God's peace and love.
Making It Personal: Music is often a source and expression of joy. Is there a song that brings you joy? What do you think of the idea that joy is not so much found “out there” but within us and in our connection with God’s peace and love?
Listen To Our Lent Podcast Episodes
We also invite you to listen to the Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness Podcast hosted by Scott Stoner. This is a year-round, weekly podcast; however, during Lent, there will be two new episodes each week to enrich your experience of our Lenten readings on Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.
You can listen to the podcast on our website by clicking HERE. You can also find this podcast in your favorite podcast listening app (Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.)—just search for Living Compass Spirituality and Wellness