In recent days I've prayed to the Lord for greater joy and peace. After all this was my birthday week and I had anticipated a day filled with fun activities and making great memories. And it was nice. Many friends and loved ones sent thoughtful greetings and I was treated to lunch at one of my favorite Indian buffets then on to a full-body acupressure massage and pedicure - aaaah. However, at the end of the day, as I laid down to sleep, I felt a twinge of sadness and had to ask myself, "Hmm, what is this about?" After all having a play-date with my friend enjoying a vacation day with pay!
In the morning though the feelings returned and so I prayed to the Lord about them. I poured myself my favorite flavored coffee and turned on my most loved praise playlist but by mid-afternoon I had to step away from my desk. I just couldn't shake it off and needed to intercede on my own behalf and boldly asked the Father for an anointing of happiness. I wasn't even sure if one could ask for such a thing because I know Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world." So I decided to be a big girl and to just get over it! Still, I hoped I wasn't asking for too much. However, it was at that sincere point of prayer that an anointing of strength and peace entered my mind and spirit and it became clear to me, for the first time, that joy is one of the gifts of the Spirit given to us by the Lord. Amen!
Now I know about the gifts of tongues, of healing, and of eternal life. We have learned and know that it was by the Holy Spirit that Jesus rose from the grave and that that same Spirit that now lives and in resides in us who are Believers. It's just that it is news to me that there is actually a gift of the Spirit - or an anointing - to free us from sad feelings. It is called the Oil of Gladness.
In Charles Spurgeon's article, The Oil of Gladness, I read, "The divine Spirit has many attributes, and his benign influences operate in divers ways, bestowing upon us benefits of various kinds, too numerous for us to attempt to catalogue them. Amongst these is his comforting and cheering influence. "The fruit of the Spirit is joy." In Acts 13:52 we read, "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost." Wherever he comes as an anointing, whether upon the Lord or upon his people, upon the Christ or the Christians, upon the Anointed or upon those whom he anoints, in every case the ultimate result is joy and peace. On the head of our great High Priest he is joy, and this oil of gladness flows down to the skirts of his garments. To the Comforter, therefore, we ascribe "the oil of gladness."
Wow, how awesome! We shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free. His Word is the Sword of the Spirit and I take it to wield at the very root of those feelings. Thank you Lord for I have received the best birthday gift of all!
"THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,"
Isaiah 61:1
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. That is why God, your God, anointed you rather than your companions with the oil of gladness
Hebrews 1:9
Charles Spurgeon 'The Oil of Gladness'
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