Psalms 51:7-12 - Once you are saved you are not simply changed to where you will never have another worry again, where every day will automatically be filled with joy. Your personal happiness is still up to you - but by being saved you have the joy of knowing where you can spend your eternity!
Our earthly days will always be filled with earthly sins. Earthly sin challenges our joy. Your salvation can't be taken from you - but your enjoyment and happiness that you find in life can. The Devil knows that - so that is what he attacks at every opportunity. Sometimes his attacks come in the loss of something; family, health, money, job - any of those things as well as many others, can trouble our lives.
Philippians 1:1-18 - Paul wrote this while he was in prison. How many incarcerated people are joyful? Paul was! He didn't spend his time shaking the bars - screaming and yelling. No... he wrote a book - all about the joy he found in the Lord.
Often times we look at struggles in our lives in the wrong way... we have a pity party and feel sorry for the woes that we are going through. It is important to really look at things from the big picture - Paul was in prison and sure that may have felt like a heavy burden to him... but it wasn't. Paul realized that he wasn't in prison for him - he was in prison for all of the people that it would put him in touch with. Think of all the people that he brought to the Lord - all the people that were saved because of Paul's sacrifice of freedom. Next time you are going through a difficult situation or are put in a scenario like Paul was... look around and think, if not for me, who can benefit from this? Sometimes you can be the miracle for someone else and not even know it!
Philippians 2:2-5 - When we hurt we lash out at others. Rather than lashing out we should think twice and remember the love that Christ showed for us. He died on the cross for us... willingly. Let Christ's love shine in you - shine in your actions - don't let the internal pain you feel be what others see in you.
Hebrews 10:19-25 - Love one another like Christ loves us. You don't have to like all people - but the Bible does say that you do have to love them. We have to hunt for joy - it doesn't just come to us naturally. Look for it in everything that is around you. You won't get good news all your life - sometimes it will be negative...things happen and sometimes you need to look deep, but you can find joy in all things.
Philippians 1:5-6 We are all different and each of us has different traits, abilities and personalities. God wants us to put those aside and share our joys with one another. John 15:9
Increase your prayer life - and fill it with unselfish prayers. Pray one for another, remember all those who are in need. Find joy in going to the Lord in prayer on others' behalf. Find joy in asking for blessings on others - for it is joyful to be a part in other people's joy. Be specific with God, tell him what is needed - there is nothing you should hide from Him.
Take joy in your partnerships - joy in singing, studying, witnessing, find joy in life in general. Do right always - think "What would Jesus do?" - if you think of everything in terms of that question decision don't seem so difficult. Find joy in making the right choices and in getting God's approval.
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