5 of the Best Ways to Add Joy to Your Life Today

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“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

I love that!

When you and I live with joy we show people that God is with and within us.

Don’t you love being with joy-filled people? I believe joy is one of the reasons crowds flocked to be with Jesus . . . He was joy-filled!

Luke wrote:

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 10:21

And when a person is filled with joy—it shows.

There’s a quote I love that says it like this…

“When you live close to God and His grace, you don’t have to tell it shows on your face.” ~ Anonymous

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we don’t have to manufacture our own joy?

It is a beautiful gift given to us by the Holy Spirit.

But like any gift, we can hide it in a closet and fail to use it. So, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to focus our thoughts and our lives to open that gift and add joy to our lives!

The Best Ways to Add Joy to Your Life

1. Live Your Forgiveness

When you and I repent and ask God to forgive us, we can know with confidence that we are forgiven and free. We are covered by grace through Jesus’ death and resurrection. When we remember how much God has forgiven us, we are willing and able to forgive others.

And forgiveness frees us from the emotions that block joy.

“Forgiving does not erase the bitter past. A healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.” ~ Lewis B. Smedes

2. Live with Love and Kindness

Trust God’s love and His generous mercy and grace. He is always at work for the good of His children for His glory. When we surrender our lives to God’s love and kindness He gives us joy. And He gives us plenty to share.

 In this new life . . . Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:11–12

3. Live with Gratitude

Gratitude is a way of life that expresses itself through joyful praise. Living with gratitude improves mental and emotional well-being and our physical health. It strengthens relationships, creates feelings of satisfaction and contentment, and can even help us cope with stress. Can you imagine? Those are some seriously wonderful joy-inducing blessings!

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.

Psalm 28:7

4. Live Generously

Generosity is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return.~Wikipedia

Living generously is sharing whatever we have been given with others. God is so generous with us and He invites us to be generous with our time, our abilities, and our abundance.

Paul wrote:

God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7b (MSBG)

I know that when I’m feeling down and my joy is hard to find, doing something for someone else always brings joy to my heart and brightens my day.

5. Live With Wonder

Article after article tells us that children laugh more than adults. They are also born with a natural sense of wonder. Have you ever watched a little one’s fascination with butterflies, birds, bugs, rocks, etc? They are often better at seeing the beauty in simple things than the adults around them.

Let’s make it a goal to open our eyes . . . and our hearts and minds to the wonder around us. There is beauty to see in every part of God’s creation and in the ways He is at work in people and in the world at large.

Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

Psalm 111:3–4

A Prayer Asking for God to Help You Add Joy

Father, Your blessings abound in my life. Everywhere I look, Your goodness shines. Yes, in this world there are troubles and difficulties but by Your grace, Jesus has overcome the world. He has redeemed our souls from sin, death, and the power of satan.

Father, Jesus is Your gracious gift. He is our source of joy . . . joy that lasts forever and always.

I can be guilty of focusing on myself and on my struggles. Please forgive me. Help me live the gift of the forgiveness I have been given. Help me live with love, kindness, gratitude, and generosity. Help me actively do the things You have told me will add joy to my life. And please help me enthusiastically share my blessings with the people You place around me.

Lord, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.” (Psalm 16:11) Thank you! I love you! You have given me everything I need. Amen.

David Jeremiah said…

“Christian joy isn’t always laughing, always having a good, hilarious time. Christian joy is the deep, settled peace that comes to live within your heart when you know that the really important things are all right.”

May you experience joy today and every day in ways that bless you, your family, friends, and coworkers.

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