Find Joy in the JourneySample

Day 3: Days of Joy

Live life with a due sense of responsibility; not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do. (Ephesians 5:15, PH)

Finding true joy is knowable and achievable in Christ. Joy is a divine fruit of the Spirit that we have access to when we believe and open our spirit to freely receive the fruit of the Spirit. You might ask, what does receiving look like? It’s starting every morning with established thoughts on what you know to be true and constant in your life. God's grace and His word are constant, irrevocable promises.

"God generously gives us everything for our enjoyment." (1Timothy 6:17, TEV)

To experience abundant days of joy, there are a few things we all must practice. Let me share a few with you.

1. Celebrate your achievements, great or small.
2. Allow a spirit of thankfulness to consistently precede your future request.
3. Love the people who love you deeply.
4. Give no idle time to those whose love has not been proven or tested.
5. Value your time and your words.
6. Don’t look for quick results from those in whom you’ve made an emotional investment.

My dear friends, at this point you might be wondering – why is she saying all of this?

Real joy comes to the surface of our lives only when we stop searching for the superficial. The true and lasting joy we’re talking about is a divine work of the Spirit in a yielded vessel.

"Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering." (Romans 12:1, The Message)

The remedy for a joy shortage is found in looking inward and not outward. The spirit of thankfulness is a major factor in our days of joy. Be thankful for your life as it is now, before what you expect it to be is manifested. Fall in love again with your life and not the life of someone else. When that happens, we find the joy as we walk the journey, not just at the destination.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:12, ESV)

"What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. (Psalms 31:1, LB)

The scripture says in Hebrews chapter 11 that if Abraham and Sarah had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But the Bible says, “they were looking for a better place.”

Friend, no matter how far we have come and where our journey takes us, never look back.

Always know there is a better place where joy resides!

"Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal." (John 12:25, The Message)

“So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.” (II Corinthians 5:9, NLT)

A final prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. Thank You for always being a good Father and generous with a lasting love for us. We ask for the work of the Spirit to be made manifest in our daily lives. We pray that the fruit of the Spirit would be evident as Galatians 5:22 says, love, joy, peace, forbearance , kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Amen.

Did this plan encourage you? We’d love to get to know you better. Connect with Teresa Cooper at https://www.newcreationfamilychurch.com