Joy is the serious business of Heaven.

C. S. Lewis

We talk a lot about joy around here.

Joy is a funny thing.

It can completely engulf us and yet be entirely elusive.

It all depends on us.

You see, Jesus not only made a way for us to have joy… big, bright, unbridled joy.

He wants us to have the very same joy that He has.

I’ve told you these things for a purpose:
that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.
John 15:11

As Jesus was entering His final hours here on earth, He prayed for us. This prayer to the Father, referred to as the high priestly prayer, is filled with Jesus’ love and His desires for you.

I am on my way to you. But I say these things while I am still in the world, so that my followers will have the same complete joy that I do.
John 17:13

So why don’t we have joy?

I think it’s because we unwittingly have left the door open so it could be stolen right out from under our noses.

This joy that God has for us is something that completes us and in its fullness, spills out into the lives of others.

Last week I shared 7 Ways to Add More Joy to Your Day. As important as each of those seven ways are… and they are… there is something equally and maybe more significant which I want to address today.

God cares about the amount of joy you have in your heart.

Joy is a treasure. Not like a piece of gold or the Hope diamond. It’s a living treasure, one that makes us whole.

The thing is… everyone can see our joy…

You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.
Luke 6:45

When my joy is low I am not as loving, encouraging, thoughtful, or considerate. Instead, I find I’m more self-centered, more focused on what I’m lacking and thus, not-so-grateful. And yes, I’m not the only one who notices. The bottom line. My life is out of balance. There’s too much of me and not enough of HIM.

How does it happen?

Remember that door that gets left open? When that happens, I usually allow doubt or negative thoughts to enter my mind. This is an area where we cannot let our guard down.

You see when I start to doubt or entertain those negative thoughts, my trust in God is undermined.

If you trusted Jesus and chose to make Him your Savior, leader, and guide, then you experienced an unbelievable joy as a result.

You have never seen Him but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. And you have joy so great that words cannot tell about it.
1 Peter 1:8-9

Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him.
Romans 15:13

That’s why I suggested earlier that our joy depends on us.

If we put our trust in God… He gives us joy.

But… if we doubt God, worry and fret, or place our trust elsewhere… we punch holes in our joy reservoirs and our joy seeps out.

Don’t let your joy leak out!

Trust God.

Be grateful.

And treasure your joy.

And remember…

Joy is the serious business of Heaven.
C. S. Lewis

Don’t take it for granted!

For a reminder to take joy seriously…
download this free 5×7 printable (for personal use only) here.
 
 

It’s Joy Day!

 
Let’s begin the week in gratitude and watch our hearts overflow with joy.

Please join me in thinking back over the past week and counting seven things for which you are thankful. Because God’s word tells us that we are to give thanks in all things we need to include a bit of the unpleasant as well. It’s an amazing exercise.

The best part of doing this….we get JOY! And I just know you need some joy. [wink]

I’ll start…

Thank you God for…

1. the sunshine and being able to enjoy so many special times with my love this weekend.
2. being able to get the sensor on my camera fixed so reasonably.
3. big waves and being able to watch the kite surfers, wind surfers, and surf boarders on the Big Lake.
4. a church that understands worship and weaves time into the corporate singing for personal worship.
5. giving me the ability to walk on water, like Peter. Help me to keep my eyes on YOU.
6. wonderful kids that are a joy to serve.
7. my dear friend, Mary Beth and her love, joy, and hospitality.

Now…it’s YOUR turn!

List your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below. You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet thoughts.

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