Living with joy in your heart, mind, and soul is a choice. We can choose to be joyful or choose to be grouchy. “You have put gladness in my heart,” (Psalm 4:7). The best source to find thoughts on joy is the Word of God. Jesus is our best example. By His suffering on the cross He found joy in knowing that His suffering would bring billions of followers to Christianity. Jesus prayed often to our Heavenly Father and left us prayers to follow in his footsteps.
When we retreat into silence and pray to God we are refreshed and find the joy that is in Christ. “Only in God is there fullness of joy.” By giving our joy to others we are blessed and receive even more of Christ’s joy. “Give and it will be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…” (Luke 6:38). God is especially pleased when we uplift others in there sadness or grief with a kind word and a generous portion of our joy.
The spirit of joy is a main theme that weaves throughout the Bible. Living our life with a joyful spirit enhances our relationship with Jesus and others. God is love and “God’s love brings inexpressible joy,” (1Peter1:8). My hope is that we willingly give away our joy to enhance the lives of those around us. This pleases God, and He will replenish our joy abundantly; love and blessings, Carby.
The One-Minute Prisoner 