By LaRaine Rice
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15 May, 2024
There are times when we just don’t feel joyful – times of difficulty, sadness, and hurt feelings. There are even times when we choose to hold on to pain, bitterness, or depression and wallow in it. It can be hard to choose joy. There are a lot of reasons for our inability to experience joy. Perhaps the main reason is this: Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus summarized it well when he said, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). If you are struggling to choose joy, consider this advice from scripture: Put life in perspective : Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Our trials serve to bring us closer to God. Keeping perspective prevents mole hills from becoming mountains and turns mountains into mole hills. Keep your eyes on Jesus : Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2). A life focused on Jesus is ready and able to experience joy. Adjust your thinking : Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8). Surrender your thoughts to God. What you think about matters. Take care of your body : Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Too much sugar, not enough sleep or lack of exercise can rob you of your joy. Limit screen time : No verse in the Bible speaks directly to this truth; so, you can simply ask God to speak truth into your life on this topic. It can be isolating, addictive, create division, waste time, and distract us from more important things -- separating us from God and others. Confess your sin : If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It’s hard to feel joy when your heart isn’t pure. The Good Shepherd came to give life, life to the full. Listen to His voice. Choose joy. By LaRaine Rice