I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy

Sometimes, we are just passing through life. Rolling out of bed each morning after snoozing the alarm at least once. We get into this rhythm of going about our daily activities without really thinking about them, much less actually enjoying them. I have been guilty this month of just looking forward to the next day and the next day; of setting the auto-pilot and going through the motions that I know I should be. I have been challenged in the past week or so to STOP. That's my encouragement for this issue: Stop it! What is enjoyable about cruising through life without stopping to smell the roses or actually feeling enjoyment out of your daily accomplishments? You can't enjoy the present if you're always looking to the future to see what'll come next. I am definitely guilty there. I am SUCH a planner. It's definitely an obsessive-compulsive sort of thing. I always want to know what's happening, when it's happening, and how it is happening. I want all the little detail of what is to come. However, I've realized that if you spend all of your time looking forward, you aren't really living your life in the present. And if you aren't living your life in the present, where are you living?

In our bible study with friends, we started going through the fruits of the Spirit. Last week, we went over Joy. It really convicted me about having joy in my own life. There is so much to be joyful about in the Lord! And more than that, we are called be be joyful. It glorifies God when we are taking joy in Him and delighting in Him--despite whether present circumstances are positive or quite bleak. And as we talked about joy and what spiritual joy is, we decided that it is not a feeling, moreover it is an attitude of contentment; joy is choosing to delight in God's will in the good times and the bad because we know that God will take care of all of His people in due time. The Book of Matthew tells us this,

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap 

nor gather into barns, 

and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?"

(Matthew 6:26)

Now, instead of worrying daily about how bills will be paid or how we will be able to do this or that, or what is going to become of some other matter, we need to remember that God know all of our needs and will make sure they are met if we are faithful to Him. When we trust God and know Him more, we can take delight in God instead of worry over the silly things of life.

So, my challenge for myself and others is this:

Be joyful!

God delights in us when we are using our time to delight in Him with our whole heart. More than that, others see God in us when we are truly seeking the Lord and joyfully living out our lives for Him. So how are we supposed to be joyful? If we know that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual fruit of Joy. Therefore, when we are seeking God, filled with the Holy Spirit, we are better able to be joyful. The more we know God, the more joy we can take in who God is and what He does. If we want to take that even further, other ways that we can have joy (of the spiritual nature) is through service and actions. Who doesn't feel content and joyful after having served someone in need? We can have a joyful heart through selfless acts towards others. Not only do selfless acts bring us joy, but they bring others joy in knowing that God cares for them AND God is glorified when we serve others for His name. Another way to be joyful is by surrounding yourself with people that will encourage you, not tear you down. That's actually how this whole post got written! I am taking great joy in this bible study with our friends. I have been greatly encouraged and challenged by my friends who have the same desire to grow in their relationship with God.

So, cheers to the future. But let's take joy in the present and reflect on God's glory!