Do
you want to be a person of joy? Silly question, isn't it?
We would love to live above our circumstances. Or have a great
attitude. Or laugh a lot. But joy goes beyond all these things.
Let's learn from God's Word the lovely facets of joy:
Joy
is the fruit of God's Spirit.
More than a great attitude or an indomitable spirit, joy
comes from God (Galatians 5:22). Our joy increases in direct
proportion to our intimacy with Christ. And when sin keeps
us from that relationship, it also robs us of our joy. (Read
Psalm 51:8,12).
Joy
doesn't depend on circumstances.
Paul wrote Philippians-often called "the book of joy,"-from
a jail cell. He was criticized, tired, and misunderstood.
But instead of allowing his horrible circumstances to choke
out God's Word and God's Spirit (as Mark 4:19 describes
they often can), Paul chose to concentrate on the joy of
knowing Christ (Philippians 2:17). Next time you read Philippians,
picture Paul's jail cell . . . and his face.
Joy
is a choice.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various
trials" (James 1:2). Here’s the reality-read it carefully.
Life's painful trials are not joyous in themselves, but
when we walk through them, we should be filled with joy.
Why? Because of the good God is developing in us and in
the situation. We can know real joy while in the scariest
storm when we fill our minds and hearts with truth about
God. Joy becomes a transaction between you and God that
others can't help but notice. It's God's life spilling over
the brim of your life and into others' lives. When you trust
Christ with the details of your life, you experience His
life in wonderful excess, and it can't help but give you
reason to smile.
Seven
Ways to Cultivate Joy
Joy springs from a life lived with eternity's values in
view. Cultivate exuberant joy in your heart by patterning
your life with the following practices.
1.
Rehearse with God the reasons you trust Him. Tell Him
which of His attributes are your favorite right now. Read
the praises of Scripture back to Him-begin with Psalm 103.
Join with another believer in prayers of thanksgiving, and
delight yourself in His character.
2.
Keep a "joy journal." Record the reasons you have to
rejoice and the reminders of God's faithfulness that you
encounter in your everyday life. In addition, why not press
a leaf from your prayer walks into its pages or include
a photo of a person that brings you joy each time you remember
them. Think big-expand your journal into a "joy box" or
a "joy drawer" that brings floods of joy each time you open
it.
3.
Surround yourself with joyful people. Joy is contagious-so
build relationships with friends whose lives exhibit their
confidence in God. Pray for each other that your joy in
Christ would continue to increase.
4.
Approach life's challenges and trials redemptively.
God doesn't waste the difficult circumstances of your life
but uses them to develop His character in you. Review Romans
5 and James 1 for help in processing pressure productively.
Joy will sneak up on you when you view your hardest lessons
as gifts from God.
5.
Make praise a habit. Has God met a need? Praise Him!
Have your challenges given you greater opportunity to see
Him work? Praise Him! Joy flows from a grateful and responsive
heart.
6.
Fill your mind with music. Listen to, sing, and meditate
on music that draws your heart nearer to God and His Word.
7.
Take the long view. Investors advise their clients not
to worry about the daily ups and downs of the stock market-what
matters is the long view. Does life present incredible challenges
today? Are your reserves at a low, or are you enjoying a
content plateau? Regardless of today's events, take the
long view. Remember that God remains in charge of your days
and will faithfully develop His character in you.
Remember,
joy springs from a life lived with eternity’s values in
view. As you make God's perspective your priority, unmatched
joy is sure to follow. Joy comes out of my decision to trust
God's Word when He promises:
•
I will never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5) • You can know real
joy in My presence. (Psalm 16:11) • I hear your every cry.
(Psalm 116:1) • I'm touched by your every hurt. (Hebrews
4:15) • My joy is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) • I will
return for you. (John 14: 6) • I am in control of your life's
details. (Romans 8:28) • I love you. (1 John 3:1)
