The surest mark of a Christian is not faith, or even love, but joy. - Samuel Shoemaker
The word joy appears 218 times in the Bible. It goes hand in hand with faith. Happiness, on the other hand, is more dependent on your circumstances. You feel happy when the job promotion comes. You feel cheerful when your financial dreams are met. You are glad when your favorite team wins, and especially happy when it goes to the Super Bowl. But these feelings last only until the next trial or failure occurs. With happiness, there is no enduring significance to any event or material possession. Joy, by contrast, is not dependent on circumstances. No matter what comes your way, you can have joy because you are walking with Jesus.
How to have a joyful life:
* Don't take yourself so seriously; nobody else does.
* Givers are more joyful than takers.
* Enjoy the little things of life - there are so many to choose from. Focus on the possibilities of tomorrow rather than the defeats of today.
* Recognize that your ultimate joy comes from knowing you are a child of the King. You are assured of eternal life without pain, suffering, or despair.
* Joy does not depend on circumstances that fluctuate from day to day. It is grounded in the assurance of God's love.
* Focus on joy when undergoing trials. Paul, who was tested, and tortured, 31 times talked about joy. He knew there would be trials, disappointments, threats, pain, and suffering. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (James 1:2).
* Joy is a deep inner peace that transcends temporary feelings of happiness.
* Joy comes from Jesus, not from your journey in life. He is the ultimate companion and friend who will never leave you or forsake you.
* Joy is experienced in the fullest when you take risks and stretch your faith. The joy of the Lord is my strength (Neh. 8:10). Look beyond your circumstances with an expectant heart knowing that you will have sufficient courage from Christ (Phi. 1:20).
* Don't let worry or fear steal away even a moment of your joy. The temporary struggles and pain you experience are just that - temporary.
* There is a natural joy that comes from knowing the final chapter of the book - you are His. Your time on earth is like a drop of water in a huge lake. The real issue has to do with where you will spend eternity. If your heart and mind are set on eternal issues, then your joy comes from knowing that the foundation of your faith is secure, no matter what circumstances come your way.
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