Joy in My Heart I have the Love of Jesus

Heritage Kids sings the Sunday-school classic “Joy In My Heart (I Have The Love Of Jesus).” It is built on a call-and-response: “I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,” and the children shout “Where?” and answer “Down in my heart!” The question and answer fit the way kids learn songs, and the repeated word “joy” makes the melody easy to follow along with.

The song adds more with each verse. “Down in my heart to stay” promises that the joy will not leave, and “I'm so happy, so very happy, I've got the love of Jesus in my heart” gives its source. A later verse changes the gift: “I've got the peace that passes understanding, way down in the depths of my heart.” The shouting of “Where?” returns, now deeper, and the song ends back on the love of Jesus. The words are short and plain enough for the youngest children, which is why it lasted in churches for generations.

The peace that passes understanding is Philippians 4:7. Joy as strength is Nehemiah 8:10, and joy and peace as fruit of the Spirit are Galatians 5:22.