How You Too Can Live Every Day with Joy that Lasts

Doesn't everyone want to live with joy that lasts? So much of life wants to steal that joy. What if there were someone who could make lasting joy possible? #BibleStudy #Faith #Livewithjoy #Blessings

Don’t you just love it when a friend calls or writes just to spread a little joy and gratitude over your life!

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is often called the “Joy Letter.”

It’s one of the reasons, Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible . . . joy is the theme of every single chapter.

So, you’d think Paul must have been living a life of ease and happiness, or what might be called “the good life,” when it was written.

But no! Not so much!

Paul wrote this letter while he was being held in a Roman prison.

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, wants us to KNOW an important truth.

Joy is NOT based on our circumstances.

Joy is not the same as happiness.

Happiness is based on our circumstances: health, wealth, possessions, control, perfect relationships, etc. Imagine blissful images on social media. The problem is that those things can change in a moment and disappear in the blink of an eye.

But joy that lasts…

Joy is deep and strong. Joy is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. It is based on the “quiet, confident assurance of God’s love at work in our lives.” (LAB Notes) Joy lasts!

Paul wrote:

I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
Philippian 1:18b–19

How can he be so confident?

Well, earlier in the letter, he wrote:

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6

God is faithful to help us grow in His grace. He never gives up on us. We are securely anchored in our relationship with the Lord and through His Spirit, we have everything we need to live with joy that lasts even when our circumstances aren’t the perfect pictures we want them to be.

A Prayer to Live with Joy that Lasts

Father, thank you so much for wanting me to have joy. Thank you for Jesus, the One who makes joy possible.

Please forgive me. It is so easy for me to get so focused on my circumstances and distracted by things that unsettle and upset me. I can let a moment of unhappiness rob me of my joy when I take my eyes off You.

I come to You and ask You to give me a heart that desires to SEEK You above everything else in my life. Please help me know the true joy that lasts. Help me remember there is joy when I take refuge in You. (Psalm 2:12) May I rest in Your love and find joy in Your presence. (Psalm 16:11) May I faithfully celebrate with joy the victory You have won for me. (Psalm 21:1) May I rejoice in the gift of forgiveness. (Psalm 32:1) May I daily find joy in obeying Your will. (Psalm 40:8)

You are so good and gracious to me. Your mercy surrounds me. Your love overwhelms me. You are my reason for joy . . . for joy that lasts. I thank and praise You. And I look forward to thanking and praising You today, tomorrow, and forever and always. Amen.

Our joy is based on the empty tomb . . . on the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus.

By God’s grace, it is possible for us to be so connected to Jesus that we can experience contentment and peace no matter what happens in our lives. We can be confident that He will give us the strength we need whatever our circumstances.

And knowing that is why Luke 12:31 is one of my life verses:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Seeking the Lord above all else gives me everything I need to live through whatever happens in my life . . . and that truth gives me joy that lasts.

And when you and I live with joy . . . we give Him glory.

I love this quote:

“We should be so joyful from God’s grace that others would respond by saying ‘I wish I had your God.’” – Francis Chan

So, on today’s note write:

Because of Jesus, I can experience a joy that lasts forever and ever and always.

May God bless you and give you everything you need to live with joy today and always.

Click here to read the rest of Philippians 1.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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How to Have Contagious Joy This Christmas

12 / 14 / 2012 / 14 / 20

It’s been a hard year for so many of us. Our list of reasons to be unsettled and unhappy seem to linger week after week after week.

Isolation and loneliness are simply not what God intended for us and for some reason it feels even harder at Christmastime when we typically look forward to our calendars being full of plans with family and friends.

I took a good look in the mirror and decided I need an attitude adjustment. I run to God and ask Him to not only give me joy but to bring it to the surface and make it contagious for the benefit of everyone around me. I have a feeling I will be blessed as well!

So, I’m asking myself a question today and I thought you might need to ask yourself, too!

Name someone with whom you’d most like to spend an afternoon?

I’m not sure, but I’m guessing you are NOT thinking about grumpiest person you know!

Seriously, who wants to spend any significant time with a person who is cranky and miserable.

I’m not talking about a friend who is sad or grieving. I mean the one who is just plain ornery. (And let’s face it . . . there is plenty of ornery to go around at the moment.)

I don’t know about you but conversations with cranky and miserable people weigh me down and sap my energy.

If I get to choose, I want to spend my time with people who make me laugh . . . people who bubble over with joy and help me forget for a minute or two the things that are unpleasant and unsettling.

Because the truth is . . . attitudes are contagious.

They affect everyone around us.

Paul wrote:

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

It’s hard isn’t it?

When life feels hard, being joyful does not bubble forth naturally! And in all honesty, being thankful isn’t at the top of my list either. But if it is God’s will for us . . . then with His help and all-sufficient grace, it is more than possible.

How? Because He is able to work the impossible in us.

Joy is an attitude that comes from deep within a soul that is full of the love of the Lord.

Kay Warren wrote:

“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”

Joy that is contagious comes from God’s Spirit living in us.

But it’s easy to squelch the Holy Spirit, isn’t it?

When we confuse temporary happiness with lasting contagious joy. When we hold back telling ourselves that…

“I’ll be happy when _________.”

We stifle the joy that the Lord freely wants to give us. And I don’t want to be a stifler for one moment longer . . . especially when I know that God’s will for me is to ALWAYS be joyful and thankful!

So, I’m asking…

Is your joy contagious?

I want to be the person with whom my friends want to spend an afternoon.

Pastor David Jeremiah said…

“When our lives are filled with peace, faith and joy, people will want to know what we have.”

I want that! I want to bubble over with gratitude and joy! I want the people around me to experience the joy of Jesus when they spend time with me.

This has been a hard year! It's easy to grumble and complain. But people who live with contagious joy are more fun. Check this out to find your JOY! #Christmas #Joy #Faith #JoyandGratitude #CountingMyBlessings #WWGGG

So, I’m taking a look at the characteristics of contagious joy!

People who are filled with contagious joy are…

♥ Less Self-absorbed

Joy-filled people recognize their blessings. They don’t spend much time worrying about what makes them happy. They are so thankful for the blessings they have they want to bless others. They don’t worry about what “everyone” thinks, what “everyone” has, or what “everyone” does. They focus others . . . on JOY – Jesus – Others – You.

What can I offer the Lord for all He has done for me?
Psalm 116:12

♥ Less Envious

Work with me here, I’m working with a “less” theme. The truth is joy-filled people aren’t envious at all. They don’t compare their gifts, abilities, or blessings to anyone else’s. They choose to trust God’s sovereign wisdom as the Gracious Giver of every blessing.

Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:4

♥ Less Critical and Judgmental

If you and I are “less” envious then we’re likely to be less critical and judgmental as well. Because let’s face it, much of our criticism begins with comparisons. We want to feel better about ourselves so we look down on others. People who are filled with contagious joy build up, elevate, and encourage those around them. And aren’t they the people with whom we love to spend time?

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22–23a

♥ Less Controlling

Joy-filled people don’t have to control people or circumstances because they know, trust, and love the One who is in control and that’s enough. They have peace because they trust God’s will and embrace His plans and purposes for them.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Romans 8:28

People who are filled with contagious joy are also…

♥ More Hopeful

It’s hard to find an anxious worrier who bubbles over with joy. Joy-filled people worry less because their hope is in the One who controls the future. The One who is already there.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Philippians 4:6

♥ More Forgiving

Joy-filled people understand and are thankful for God’s gracious forgiveness. They have been freed from the burden of guilt and shame and they celebrate their freedom by letting go of resentment and bitterness to forgive others.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31–32

♥ More Encouraging

Life is hard. There is an enemy of our souls constantly trying to defeat and discourage us. Joy-filled people understand the need for encouragement and they freely offer it to the people around them. They know it’s a blessing to give and receive a positive word, a little help, and an offering of prayer to build them up when they are confronting spiritual battles.

God did not choose us to suffer His anger but to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now.
1 Thessalonians 5:9,11

♥ More Optimistic

It’s true. Joy-filled people tend to look for the good in people and circumstances. They see good because they anticipate good. Not Pollyanna good but blessing good. They watch to see what God is doing knowing that it is always good.

Depend on the Lord; trust Him, and He will take care of you.
Psalm 37:5

♥ More Thankful

Joy-filled people count their blessings and appreciate them. They don’t assume God or people know they’re grateful. They tell them and show them their appreciation. And they do it with enthusiasm!

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17

Joy-filled people are HAPPIER!

And happier people are more fun to be around. Even when life is challenging . . . it’s possible for those who live with joy to find reasons to laugh and praise God.

Because no matter what is going on in their lives they have God’s all-sufficient grace to say . . . “it is well with my soul.”

Can you imagine how many people would want what we have if we lived each day with contagious joy?!

People would want us as friends. Bosses would want to hire us. Coworkers would want to know our secret. Family and friends would want to spend time with us. And so on and so forth…

It sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it?

May all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness in You. May those who love Your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
Psalm 40:!6

May people want to KNOW the LORD because our JOY IS CONTAGIOUS!

Stop for a moment and ask yourself . . . how contagious is my joy?

God bless you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Have Joy One Day at a Time

8 / 2 / 187 / 29 / 20

I want to live one day at a time! Really, I do!

Jesus said, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” Matthew 6:34

He also said, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11

I want that too! The overflowing joy of remaining in the love of Jesus.

But life distracts and details discourage and my joy heads south as my heart and mind fill with the regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow.

So, I’m going to the Lord in prayer and thought you might want to join me…

5 Verses to Pray that will Help You Have Joy
One Day at a Time

Psalm 32:5

I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Father, thank you! I have confessed and repented and You have forgiven me. My sin is gone and by Your grace, my guilt and regret can be gone too. I know I may have to live through some difficult things because of my failures but I trust that You will be with me and give me everything I need to live joyfully knowing I am redeemed and forgiven. All because of Jesus. Thanks and praise forever. Amen.

Psalm 103:11–13

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

Father, You love me! You really love me. So much that through Jesus I am washed clean. My sins are completely gone. Your forgiveness is complete. I am Your child and I can rest in Your tender, compassionate embrace. Whatever today brings … You hold me close. That alone is a reason to celebrate with joy! Thank you, Father. Amen.

Philippians 4:6–7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Father, You tell me to bring every worry and trouble to You. You want me to tell you what I need because You care for me. Because You love me. You also invite me to thank you for past blessings. And as I remember with gratitude all You’ve carried me through … You fill me with that hard to understand peace; You fill my heart and mind with confident faith, knowing You are able to carry me through whatever tomorrow brings. I have You to help me face today and You are all I need. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5–6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take.

Father, I surrender my heart, my mind, my life … my all to you today. Please guide me and show me the path You have prepared for me. By the power of Your Spirit, please help me focus on You when life tries to distract me. When guilt and regret taunt me and worries tempt me, call me back to Your Word of truth. Lead me. Fill me with Your Spirit. Show me Your will. I will seek to know Your will and by the power and with the help of Your Holy Spirit — I will follow where You lead. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Revelation 22:13

^“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”

Jesus, You are the Beginning and the End, the Word Made Flesh, the Author and Perfector of my faith, my Redeemer, my Good Shepherd, the Kind of kings, my Hope for the future, my Defender … You are the Great I AM, and Lord of all. You are my Lord and Savior.

Because You know the end from the beginning I can have peace when I think about the future. Nothing in my life comes as a surprise to You. You are with me, always. (Matthew 28:20) Your Spirit never leaves me. (John 14:16) You give me joy. (John 15:11) Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

It’s not easy to have joy one day at a time!

We’re busy and everything from stacked up little annoyances to great big joy-busting problems are trying to pull our attention in a million different directions.

It’s crazy how quickly I can obsess over something that happened yesterday and find myself anxious about something that may or may not happen tomorrow.

And the truth is … that ain’t no way to live!

Regret, guilt, worry, and anxiety are all tools the enemy uses to keep you and me from living with joy.

But God… (Oh, how I love those two words.)

But God is willing and able to give us everything we need to live today in His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Everything we need to live with joy one day at a time!

So, just for today, I will prayerfully carry these words in my heart…

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:25

Without a doubt … that is the way to live!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

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How to Manage Painful Memories and Live with Joy

6 / 5 / 174 / 30 / 19

A photo, a smell, a melody . . . can trigger painful memories and emotions but with God's help, you and I don't have to relive the pain repeatedly. #CountingMyBlessings #Memories #Livewithjoy #Faith

A photo, a smell, a melody . . . can trigger a memory and emotion.

I’m an emotional Sanguine. So, my memories always come with an attached emotion.

If fact, when Rev asks me if I remember an occasion, event, or travel experience my usual response is, “I don’t know, did I cry.”

Happy tears. Sad tears. It doesn’t matter.

Emotions make imprints on my heart and mind.

We all carry around a sack full of emotional memories. Some are good memories, some bad or even painful, some are thrilling and a few may even be frightening

The truth is … memories have the power to make us smile or sit down for a good ol’ cry.

Each memory imprinted on our hearts and minds becomes part of us and like it or not … influence our beliefs and attitudes.

And that’s where we need to be careful.

Because…

If you and I allow our memories too much influence over our present or future . . . we have a problem.

Because things like our feelings and opinions, the people involved, and even our physical circumstances have the ability to affect and distort them.

Every memory we have is filtered through a lens of our own personal perspective.

That’s one of the reasons why eyewitnesses can have completely different stories when giving detailed accounts of an event.

Emotions and past experiences will always influence our perspectives, perceptions, and therefore, our memories.

So, let me ask you…

What do you think influences your memories the most?

Christian Psychologist, David Seamands said,

We cannot change our memories, but we can change their meaning and the power they have over us.

With God’s help, you and I can control what we think about our memories and we can refuse to give them the power to control attitudes, opinions, and even our emotions.

Have you ever had a day ruined because you were unable to shake an unpleasant memory? Or had a perfectly good experience deteriorate because an unexpected unpleasant past moment popped to mind?

Yep, me too!

But I’m learning…

With God’s help, you and I don’t have to let our memories mess with our today or our tomorrow.

How to Manage Painful Memories and Live with Joy

1. Make a list of the painful memories.

The people, experiences, and thoughts that make it hard for you to maintain your daily joy. It’s not a pleasant process but knowing what thoughts are likely to steal your joy is the beginning of stopping them before they take over. AND you can even burn or shred it when you’re done as an intentional act of letting them go.

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5

God is greater than your memories and He is able to help you focus on better things.

2. Identify the emotions you’ve attached to your memories.

Especially the joy stealers. Ask the why behind your feelings and challenge yourself to question whether or not you’re allowing your personal filter to distort the truth.

Then lay those painful feelings and emotions at the foot of the cross and ask the Lord to deliver you from your painful past.

I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4

3. Accept that not everyone remembers things the same way.

Everyone filters their memories through a very personalized lens. It’s important to admit and accept that the other people in your memory may not remember things the same way you do. And that’s okay.

Accept that it’s no longer about right or wrong and choose to forgive and love.

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

4. You may not be able to change your memories but you can change the power your memories have over you.

With God’s help, you and I can have the peace we need to move on.

Forgiving does not erase a 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 Smedes

5. Pray!

Ask God to give you everything you need to manage your memories and your attitude.

“Believe God’s word and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea.” ~Samuel Rutherford

6. Keep a notebook/journal/jar of happy memories.

Keep it where family members can write their favorite memory of the day or week and read through them together each month. Then save your favorites to read to one another on New Year’s Eve.

“When you cannot rejoice in feelings, circumstances or conditions, rejoice in the Lord.” ~A.B.Simpson

7. Improve your Emotional Quotient.

Practice identifying your feelings and managing them. I’ve discovered it’s something that is crucial for crucial to my success and happiness. I read recently that people with high EQ’s make the best employees … so, what have you got to lose?

Don’t run from your emotions … good or bad they are part of who you are. When you and I learn how to manage them we can use them for success.

I remember the days gone by;
    I think about all that you have done,
    I bring to mind all your deeds.
I lift up my hands to you in prayer;
    like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you.
Psalm 143:5–6 (GNT)

Finally – Make new memories!

Be intentional about making lots of happy memories.

Everyone has painful memories but it really is possible to make plenty of positive memories to overshadow the difficult ones. I promise … I’ve been there!

Rev and I have one date in particular that has painful memories attached to it. So we intentionally do things that day to make new happy memories. We even picked up our puppy, Sadie, on that particular date so we’d have something happy to remember each time that date rolls around.

Remember – memories will pop up when you least expect them. It’s okay. Just like fear or many other hard emotions … make every effort to make those painful memories infrequent and short-lived. Don’t have to let them control you.

Sing a praise song, pray, and speak a verse out loud. My favorite is…

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26

With God’s help, you and I have the power to we need to live with joy … intentionally focused on happy memories and blessings.

A prayer for God’s help with emotion management.

Father, by Your grace, help me manage my emotions. Painful memories and their attached emotions are a part of my life but with Your help, I believe I can release the pain and live with joy. Please help me to focus on my blessings as I surrender my past painful memories to Your love and grace. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

Starting Wednesday

I am so excited! I’m getting together with my best blogging friends to share our best of the best blog posts this summer. Every Wednesday in June and July, we are sharing our top posts in the Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series.

You do not want to miss this! Nine new posts each week rated by our readers as our most popular. And you wondered what you were going to read…

So come back Wednesday, or better yet, subscribe so you never miss an update.