What We All Need

By Laurie Ness

The excitement of the holidays is gone.  No holiday hustle and bustle to distract us. We're left with what is truly in our hearts.

What's in your heart, dear one, as you pack away the Christmas decor for another year?  A spark?  A roaring fire? Or . . . cold, dark nothingness?

No matter what condition our hearts are in at the start of this new year, JOY is what we all need--either to get it or keep it!. And even those in the saddest or most worrisome circumstances can have joy!  Isn't it wonderful?  In fact, God wants us to have joy.  There's nothing we can do to deserve such joy, but any Christ-follower is capable of experiencing it by choosing the right frame of mind.  Here are a few facts to help us focus on joy:

Joy and happiness are not equal.  See, happiness is an emotion.  Joy is an attitude.  Our emotions are random and unreliable, while our attitudes are chosen and nurtured by us!  Joy and happiness may coincide at times, but they are not one and the same. "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

Joy and gratitude go hand in hand.  We can't be thankful and joyless.  Gratitude breeds joy.  Constant thanksgiving leaves no room for bitterness or empty spaces in our hearts. “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:6-7)

Joy lets go.  A joyful heart doesn't cling to its own wants, but lays everything (dreams, time, things, money, people, etc.) at Jesus' feet and let's Him decide what is best. "But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may all those who long for your saving help always say, 'The Lord is great!'" (Psalm 40:16)

Joy lives in the moment.  To worry about tomorrow is a joy-killer.  True joy trusts the future to the One who holds it. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself . . . "  (Matthew 6:34)

Joy thrives in obedience.  Living in obedience to the Lord isn't always easy but always builds up the joy factor! "Light shines on the righteous, and joy on the upright in heart.  Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name."  (Psalm 97:11-12)

Choose joy, my friend.  Even in these cold winter months, joy is always there to experience. :)

JOY: Not Just for Christmas!

by Laurie Ness

We hear a lot about joy this time of year, though some may find it difficult, impossible even, to feel like they are experiencing it.  Does joy elude you this time of year?  You're not alone!  Or maybe this is the one time of year joy seems to come easily, but it's a struggle at other times?  You're not alone, either!  I personally have been in both those places at different times in my life, and I know many others have as well.  I've learned some things about joy along the way, and, though I'm still not always consistent in walking in joy every second of every day, I'd love to share with you some ways to make joy real in our lives.  We can encourage each other! :)

Differentiate between joy and happiness.  Is it possible to be unhappy and joyful?  Absolutely!  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds . . ." (James 1:2).  James goes on to describe why we should consider our trials pure joy (great reading!), but my point here is that James's God-inspired writing tells us that trials are a cause for joy!  See, happiness is an emotion.  Joy is an attitude.  Our emotions are random and unreliable, while our attitudes are chosen and nurtured by us!  Joy and happiness may coincide at time, but they are not equal.

Take our eyes off ourselves.  Some of the most joyless people around are those who think only of themselves.  There's little room for joy in the life of someone busy protecting her own wants, her own needs, her own dreams.  There may be a momentary sense of satisfaction in getting her own way, but those closed fists and hearts are not open to grasp true joy!

Live obediently.   "Light shines on the righteous, and joy on the upright in heart.  Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name."  (Psalm 97:11-12)  If we choose to give up our own foolish ways and obey the one, true, wise God, there is such joy to be found in that obedience.  When we glorify Him in our actions, words, thoughts and attitudes, we can't help but to experience true joy!

Focus on Him.  However our circumstances look or feel to us, they don't change the fact that God never leaves us nor forsakes us, that He has a plan for our lives, and that He is the only One seeing the big picture.  The things we can't figure out are no mystery to Him, including the reasons He allows upsetting events in our lives.  Spend time praising Him for His sovereignty and constancy!

Practice contentment.  Count your blessings, start a gratitude journal, tell everyone on Facebook what you're thankful for . . . whatever it takes to help focus on the silver lining.  Sometimes the "only" thing we can muster up is that God is still there and that He loves us and is in control.  But what an awesome truth to cling to!  There's no silver lining that can beat that.  If everything on earth is falling apart around us, God is our rock, and He wants us to be content in Him!

So, whenever we are struggling to find joy, whether it be during the holidays or any other time of year, we need to examine our lives and see what we are doing, or not doing, that snuffs out that joy.  The joy is always there--we just need to exercise it!  And none of us needs to go it alone.  Share your struggles with someone and allow them to bless you with prayer support and encouragement.  Then do the same for someone else! :)

Additional Reading:

The book of James (or at least 1:1-8)  :)
Psalm 30:11
Psalm 118:24
Psalm 40:16

Life is Tough, but God is Faithful, by Sheila Walsh
Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow