Joy

What is joy? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, joy has three definitions: 1 a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion: gaiety 2: a state of happiness or felicity: bliss 3: a source or cause of delight. According to a pastor friend of mine, joy is seeing beyond the beyond of our current circumstances to the promises of God. One promise I am standing on today is Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in” (Amplified Bible).

How do you find joy? It can be a slow process or a fast one. This depends on you and Holy Spirit! Joy is something God gives you and no one, I repeat NO ONE, can take away from you. Joy is given as hope that there is an end in sight when you have faith that God is maturing you. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking nothing” (Amplified Bible).

How do you keep joy? Simple: Do not give it away! Focus on the positive and remain thankful. There is always something to be grateful for in every day life. Start small by keeping a journal of three to five things you are thankful for each day. Soon you will realize you are thankful for a whole lot more. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, “Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus” (Amplified Bible).

Joy is a decision, a brave one, about how you are going to respond to life.

-Wess Stafford

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