Gospel artist CeCe Winans' latest radio single, "I've Got Joy" is both a song of praise and testimony. This theme is fitting because, as we see in Psalm 107:1-2 when we experience God's goodness in our lives, it moves us to praise the Lord and to speak out and tell others what He's done for us. So, let's dive into a chat about joy in Jesus and how that joy is expressed in our lives.
He gave me beauty for ashes, turned my life around/He broke my chains and now I dance on solid ground/For all He's done to save me, I will raise my voice/I've got Jesus, so I've got joy
Joy leads to praise
He bore all of my burdens/Yeah, my debt has been paid/Then He said to my dry bones/Rise up out of that grave/He has all of my worship/All the honor and praise/I've got joy 'cause I've got Jesus
Psalm 107:1 (NLT): "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."
Joy is more than a fleeting feeling of happiness, although there's nothing wrong with that. Joy is a steady gladness and contentment in Jesus—no matter what you face.
Whether you're discovering a relationship with Jesus like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:29-39, praising Jesus in the assembly of believers like David in Psalm 35:18, suffering for your faith like the apostles in Acts 5:41, or walking through trials like James 1:2-4 promises you will, you have joy because you have Jesus.
You have a personal relationship with Him. You have His presence in your life. You have the eternal, spiritual blessings of His work in your life that can't be taken away. He has saved you from your sin and helped you grow more like Him in character. He heals your heart where it's broken and sets you free from the shackles that keep you bound. He cares for you and strengthens you every day. Knowing Jesus and experiencing His work in your life is a cause for joy.
I love the lyrics that say, "He has all of my worship, honor, and praise" and "for all He's done to save me I will raise my voice." Your joy in Jesus can—and should—overflow into praise no matter what season of life or circumstance you're in.
Joyful praise can express itself through lifting your voice in singing or declaring, dancing, kneeling, and playing music. Most importantly, it looks like devoting your life to loving God and serving Him as an offering of gratitude for His mercy, as mentioned in Romans 12:1-2.
Joy leads to testimony
Joy never-ending 'cause He called my name/Every breath I breathe, a testament of amazing grace/Oh, hallelujah everything has changed/Oh, I've got joy/Yeah, I've got joy
Psalm 107:2: "Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies."
Have you ever been so excited about something that you can't help but talk about it? My friends joke that it's easy to choose gifts for me because I'm always telling them about things I love. It's second nature to talk about things that bring joy and change in a meaningful way. (That's what a testimony is—giving witness to something you've seen or experienced.) And it should be the same with your relationship with Jesus. Just as His joy causes you to overflow with praise to Him, His joy causes you to overflow with testimony to others.
When the authorities warned the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, they proclaimed, as stated in Acts 4:20, "we cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." Is that the cry of your heart, too?
Like CeCe sings in this song, every breath taken is a testament to God's grace. When you know Jesus, your life and words become a testimony He can use to draw others into the same joy and friendship with Jesus you've found. So, don't be afraid to share the testimony of how you met Jesus, how He's changed you, and how He's working in your life, to share the gospel. He wants to use you to share the message of His goodness so He can draw others into it as well.
Final Thoughts
Knowing Jesus brings joy. Offer Him all the praise and glory He deserves for who He is and what He's done. And may we tell our neighbors, "I've found joy in Jesus, and you can, too."
Find "I've Got Joy" on Cece Winans' latest album Believe For It (Deluxe Edition). Buy the album on Apple Music or stream it on Spotify. Read the full lyrics of "I've Got Joy" here.
NRT contributor Jasmin Patterson is a lifelong fan of Christian music who is passionate about helping others connect with Christ. She lives in Kansas City where she serves in college ministry and runs a blog to help seekers and believers discover and live biblical Christianity.
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