"Recovering Your Joy" in American Sign LanguageSample

Share the Joy of Your Salvation
By Rick Warren

“He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10b NLT)

If you want to get your joy back, you 1) admit it’s gone, then you 2) analyze the cause. Then, 3) correct what’s wrong, and 4) get an attitude of gratitude.

There are three more steps to recovering your joy that we’ll talk about today.

First, you have to spend time with God every day.

It may be hard to imagine that God wants to spend time with you. He’s got a whole lot of things going on, doesn’t he? But throughout Scripture, God invites us to come into his presence. And there’s a joy that comes when we spend time with God in a daily quiet time, because we learn to hear his voice and find out what he wants us to do with our lives. The more time you spend with God, the deeper your friendship with him develops.

Second, you need to find a way to give back.

The Bible says this in Ephesians 2:10: “He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). In tough times, it’s very easy to get self-centered. But the truth is, the more you focus on yourself, the more joy you lose.

I’ve traveled around the world, and I’ve been in many closed countries where people are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. You know what I’ve discovered? The persecuted Christians are the most joyful people in the world. Why? Because it means something to them. They’re not casual, “take it or leave it” Christians. The right to worship and their freedom in Christ means something to them. And, they’re far more joyful.

You need to find a way to give back. Once you take the focus off yourself, you’ll find your joy returning.

Finally, to recover your joy, you need to tell somebody about Jesus.

Nothing will restore your joy faster than becoming concerned about the salvation of a friend. The Bible says that every time somebody accepts the Lord, they throw a party in Heaven. Did you know that? Luke 15:7 says, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life” (NCV). The day you stepped across the line, they threw a party in Heaven for you. And the day you help somebody come to know the Lord, there’s going to be a party in your heart. The joy returns as you share with others.

Pray this prayer today: “Father, help me to return love for hate, joy for grief, and kindness for apathy. May the joy of the Lord be so evident on my face that people will want to know why and know the hope that is in me. Help me to be obedient to what you have told me to do. Help me to focus on your blessings in my life so that I will have an attitude of gratitude for your faithfulness. Restore the joy of my salvation so that I can share that joy with others and help them to find their own joy through a relationship with you. Thank you that I can have hope and joy through Jesus Christ. Amen.”