I want to be a joy-filled person, regularly experiencing an exuberance for life, but sometimes that's hard to do. It's easy to let things steal my joy. There are a myriad of ways this can happen —disappointment in myself or others, worry over my children, and even technical problems. However, that is not God's plan for my life. Joy is not based on happenstance. Christ has given us the gift of joy, but whether we receive it is our choice. A choice we can make every day.
Instead of waiting to see what the day holds, I try to schedule joy into each day.
Taking the time to enjoy God's gifts reminds me of His goodness. Getting out in nature, hiking with friends, or watching a beach sunset is an excellent way to do this. My personal favorite is taking pictures at sunrise before the world awakens. The morning light seems to hold God's wonderful surprises. These sheep in Idaho took my breath away.
Life is not easy, there are difficulties, injustices, and atrocities, but there are also people full of love, kindness, and selfless acts. Nature testifies to God's loving care. God's Word teaches us healthy thinking. Philippians 4:8 says, "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." To keep spreading faith, hope, and love, we need to focus on the good things and appreciate all the beauty surrounding us.
Experiencing joy can happen daily when we pursue it instead of waiting for it to happen. Please share how you build joy into your life. Together let's make joy a part of each day.
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