“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:2).
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that teaches us to gladly do everything that aligns with our Father’s will. We serve Him with joy because there is nothing more wonderful than living according to His will. This joy resides deep within our hearts and does not necessarily coincide with feelings that come and go. It is connected to an inner peace that only God can give us. Sometimes, joy bursts forth in overwhelming jubilation that floods all our senses and impels us to praise the Lord. The Holy Spirit remains the starting point, and He would not allow us to serve the Father reluctantly.
Of course, maintaining joy is not always easy. At times, it may not be visibly reflected in our service. But it is precisely then that our acts of love become even more valuable. We leave behind our discomfort, fatigue, laziness, and everything that tries to prevent us from fulfilling God’s will willingly, completely, and immediately. These small denials of ourselves for the sake of the Lord—which may subjectively seem great to us—become a source of joy, because once again it is the Holy Spirit who moves us to do them. If we listen to Him, He will never allow us to neglect our service to the Father, who will gladden us with His presence.