My Messy Life: Finding Joy

How Can We Develop Joy In Our Lives

Stuck in rush-hour traffic? Kids going nuts and your spouse has their head in the clouds or the TV? Daily life can be trying for the Child of God. Sometimes pressures grow until we fear that we might lose it. Right? Who’s with me here?
On my vision board for this year, I added that I want to find my Joy. My grand-doll wants to know where I lost it. She offered to help me look. Ha! She is a joy, let me tell you. But, kidding aside, I started to grow deeply discouraged between the confusing pandemic news and other stuff happening in our world, I needed to get out of the miry pit and back on the right track. Because here’s the truth, joy doesn’t come from circumstances, it comes from within each of us.
Ready to talk about this? Here we go...

​How to Maintain Joy in Your Life

May my thoughts be on what is good and lovely because what I think, so I will be.  (Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.) 

This is where I stumbled. I was hearing all the negative news, thinking about the (supposed) lack in my life, and soon became all grumbly and disheartened. That was one of the first things that needed to change.
Once I realized my faulty thinking, I started to consider every blessings, big or small. Now, each day, when I journal, I make notes of 1 to 3 things I’m grateful for. This one simple steps went a long way in getting my mind off all the negative and begin focusing on the positive.

​Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

May my lips be full of praise and gratitude. I will look for the goodness in my life—big and small blessings—to boost my joy. This is like adding water and fertilizer to plants so they can grow big and strong. In the same way, I need to sow good thoughts into my life, my family, and my work. Then I can thrive in my life and I will harvest peace and abundance. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 107:1 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For his mercy endures forever.
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Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.​

Where is your treasure? Is it in your circumstances or in the Lord? 

Gratitude leads to praise which turns into worship. The more I focus on the good things God has done for me and my family, that awareness causes me to offer Him praises. And before I know it, from these simple steps to change, I’m living a life of worship.

And how can we be in the doldrums when we are worshipping our Lord?
Impossible.

Psalm 103:2-5 (NKJV) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your [sins], Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
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Psalm 95:2 (NKJV) Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

The domino effect. You take that first step of purposeful intention to change, and then the next and the next until before you know it... Joy is pouring out of your very soul. Joy is ours for the taking, my friends. Lambano it!
What does that mean? Lambano is a Greek word meaning to Take hold of. Not lightly, either. You grab it, hold it tight, and don’t let go. We need to be willing to fight to keep our joy, our peace, and our good standing before God.

Find uplifting worship music to play in the background while you are working, or driving, or doing other things. Music can go with us practically anywhere. I’ve shared the video below because it’s a song that I can’t help but feel uplifted when I hear it.
Write out scriptures that encourage your spirit and put them up in places you will see so that you’ll have a constant reminder to dash the negative thoughts and replace them with gratitude and blessings.
We can do this. Let’s get back our joy!