joy

You know when you are having an awesome day...everything is totes fab..then...something happens and you lose it.

You turn into a raging wilderbeast. You want to throat punch everyone.

 

What? You don't have moments like that? Um...you're kidding yourself. We ALL have moments like that. We ALL let certain people or circumstances steal our joy.

 

And we don't have to. We don't have to let the people around us, our problems, our bosses, our friends..steal our joy. Its something that should be unshakable. Because true joy doesn't always mean happiness.

 

Proverbs 15:13

The Message (MSG)

¹³ A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

 

True joy comes from God. Like the real true joy. The joy that helps you stand strong when troubles come and people annoy you. The joy that lets you laugh or smile even when things seems to suck the worst.

 

Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit...which means that its in us...when we accept Christ into our hearts we receive the fruits of the spirit...and JOY is one of them. SO even when you don't feel it..its in you.

 

There are over 200 verses in the bible that talk about Joy...these are some of my favs...

 

Proverbs 17:22         

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

 

James 1:2     

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds

 

Nehemiah 8:10

He continued, “Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!”

 

Jesus tells us to be joyful even in times of trouble? You say..What?? That's totes crazy...but we have the ability to be joyful....ALL THE TIME. Its just up to us if we choose to do it.

 

So here is my challenge to you today...

 

Choose Joy today.  And then give some away.

 

Smile at someone today, say hello to someone who looks sad. Take the time to talk to someone about their day, and really listen. Did you get that? REALLY listen, ask them how they are doing and really mean it.

 

Use the joy that you have been givin and give it to someone else. You might change their whole week around. You might make a dark time for them seem even brighter.

 

But you have to be bold. You have let your joy shine.