JOY is NOT momentary happiness, though it can include it.
JOY is NOT dependent on what others think or say.
Joy is NOT tied to our emotions.
JOY IS gladness, happiness, and delight that is not based on circumstances, people, or things.
JOY IS a choice.
JOY IS available for each and every one of us.
Let's be real. Life is full of reasons to be downcast, disappointed, dismayed, discouraged, and other "D" words. But it's also full of reasons to rejoice, and to be glad in, and to celebrate. The way we approach life - with all of its highs and lows - is up to us. We can come with expectant, excited, and anticipatory hearts, full of gratefulness and love, or with no expectation or excitement at all. In that case, life will just happen and we will have no part to play in its outcome.
"The JOY of the Lord is my strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). That's JOY in the fact that He loves me, saved me, delivered me, healed me, provides for me, restored me, leads me, guides me, makes intercession for me, delights in me, showers me with good gifts, ..... and so much more! And that joy is what is going to carry us towards our dreams.
May our JOY be contagious!
JOY JOY JOY I dont even know where to begin --The Joy of the Lord has been such a blessing on my life!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne conversation I have daily with the Lord is asking him "let me be overfilled with the JOY OF THE LORD!" I pray to be a joyful child of God - that others would look at me and instantly recognize that I have TRUE JOY that only comes from the LORD, which is renewed everyday!
He provides my energy and joyfullness..noone/nothing else.
Each of us is familiar with pain, hurt, depression, anxiety, worrying, heartache, emptyness and much more -- but I am a walking testimony that the JOY of the LORD has delivered me from this renewing my joyful attitude everyday.
I dare you to pray for a joyful heart in God! It has changed my life.
Thank you for your response! Yes, clearly the JOY of the Lord makes all the difference in the world! We should all be like little "salt (joy) shakers" - sprinkling JOY wherever we go. God bless you as you increase with more of Him!
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