Do You Want Joy?
Our culture today in America is pretty stressful for many people. We have a lot of activities, and we hurry from one to the next. We work a lot of hours, and our work is often stressful, too. We can get burned out. When that happens we want to relax, and get rid of the stress. People turn to many stress busters, and they are looking for an island of happiness in the sea of stress. What they really need is a good dose of joy.
Happiness passes when we stop doing the activity we like. It ends when the effects of the comfort food wear off. Then, we are back to the stress. Joy is lasting. Joy continues through the stress. It brings contentment to our busy lives, but it takes some effort to obtain it.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.(Galatians 5:22,23) We have joy when we take time each day to give ourselves to the Lord, confess any known sins so we can be cleansed(I John 1:9), and then, we ask the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. We give up doing things in our own power. We give up our own agendas, and we allow the Spirit to fill us from the inside. He fills us gradually and consistently with joy, when we stay in that state of being. It takes discipline. It takes surrender, but it is well worth it to have joy day by day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 41-43.
Happiness passes when we stop doing the activity we like. It ends when the effects of the comfort food wear off. Then, we are back to the stress. Joy is lasting. Joy continues through the stress. It brings contentment to our busy lives, but it takes some effort to obtain it.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.(Galatians 5:22,23) We have joy when we take time each day to give ourselves to the Lord, confess any known sins so we can be cleansed(I John 1:9), and then, we ask the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. We give up doing things in our own power. We give up our own agendas, and we allow the Spirit to fill us from the inside. He fills us gradually and consistently with joy, when we stay in that state of being. It takes discipline. It takes surrender, but it is well worth it to have joy day by day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 41-43.