“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalms 28:7
The source of joy is the Lord. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.” An important way to rejoice in the Lord and take delight in Him is to spend time with Him. When I spend time reading the Bible, praying and listening to God I am more focused on Him, and reminded of His love and faithfulness. Time in God’s presence allows Him to speak to us, encourage us, and pour His joy into us. I have learned this time with God is so important for me and sets the tone for my day. I notice my joy is affected when I have neglected to spend time with God. One of my favorite verses is Deuteronomy 31:6 that states “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” This verse brings me great joy and peace. How can we not have joy knowing that God is always with us and never leaves us?
I know that I have more joy when I have a heart filled with gratitude. Being grateful makes you joyful. When I intentionally recognize and appreciate God and His blessings, I can’t help but be filled with joy. It’s important to notice and appreciate the small, simple, things that we might take for granted. It’s not the possessions or circumstances that bring joy but praising God that leads to joy. When we look for God and His blessings we will find him. Sometimes having gratitude is a struggle for me and I have to intentionally change my thoughts to focus on the positive instead of the negative. I am reminded of these verses in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 that state “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I have learned that gratefulness changes my perspective and leads to joy.
When our focus is on God and his goodness we are bound to have joy.
We want to thank Bailey Adams for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 