Meditations on the Meaning of ChristmasShembull

How Do I Get Joy?

Am I looking in all the wrong places?

Is joy a choice?

Joy to the world the Lord has come! This is good news, Jesus paid the price for our sins so one day we will live with Him in glory. Are we “white knuckling it” until that day? Are we living the abundant, joyful life Jesus bought with His blood?  God wants us to be joyful and He has not hidden the path to joy, He asks us to abide in Him.

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:10-11

Our level of abiding is a good barometer of our joy. Joy is not a temporary state of mind or simply an option for Christians, joy is given by God and commanded by God.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

Joy is a choice, and we may choose to abide or not to. We decide what to reach for next. Now more than ever the world is full of distraction causing us to make choices moment by moment. Our enemy, the devil, and our own flesh actively work to distract us and draw us away from the things of God by replacing God in our lives with lowercase gods, this is idolatry. Some of the distractions are in and of themselves good things but they must be kept in proper priority, and some distractions clearly are not good at all.

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

We must not only put off evil but put on good, we must not only get rid of evil desires but replace the space with godly desires. Take every thought captive and be aware of negative thoughts. We will all have times of discontent and frustration, but rather than dwelling on the difficulty we pour out our hearts to God, we give it to Him and remember who God is.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

How do we get joy? Reflect on what God has done for us and continues to do in us. Spend time counting your blessings and it will be easier to count all the work God is doing in your life as joy. Stop feeding negative thoughts, examine the buffet of entertainment and the information highway with discerning questions such as: Is this uplifting or discouraging? Does this lead me to praise God or spiral into anger or depression? Is this helping me to be wise as a serpent and still innocent as a dove?

Reflect

• Do I meditate on His goodness?
• Do I entertain ungodly thoughts?
• Do I listen to Christian music more than secular music?
• Do I ever turn off television or put down my phone when convicted?
• IS MY STATE OF MIND DEFINED BY THE DAILY NEWS OR THE GOOD NEWS?
• Do I choose joy?

Action Steps

• Don’t let your circumstances control your thoughts or behaviour, joy is not a feeling.
• Spend time with God on a regular basis, read God’s Word and call it to mind throughout your day, stay in prayer. Rejoice in the Lord always.
• Be thankful, guard your mind, put off evil desires and set your mind on godly desires, listen to worship music, be vigilant in watching out for negative thoughts and negative input.