Joy? 1

A few days ago, I took our board and staff out to Kingsley Lake for a fun day of fellowship, playing volleyball in the water, boating, jet-skiing and tubing. Who says God’s people can’t have some fun being with one another?  One of my staff members decided to play a prank on me. Thinking my smart phone was tucked away; he opened my Facebook account and posted these words, “I am polling everyone whether I should grow out a mustache and goatee?” Needless to say, that just isn’t me to poll people on such a thing. Within a short period of time, I had many respond, encouraging me to “Go For It.” I laughed and got a kick out of it because you will live LONGER with JOY and not taking yourself so seriously.

 Who says you have to live without Joy in your tank? Who says, you need beer and drugs to have “Real Joy.”There have been a few times in life that I have run out of gas in my car tank, but I learned to refuse to leave it up to mere chance to barely make it to the nest exit for a gas station. The same applies to experiencing Joy in life.

Some leave it up to their RANDOM THOUGHTS. When I make deposits into my checking account, “THEN” I have the power of that deposit to write checks on that account. If I don’t deposit the right thoughts into my mind, I can’t expect to have JOY in my life. If all I deposit in my thought life is bad news, worry, stress, pressures and difficulties, then all I have to live with is discouragement and despondency. If I deposit “GOD”S WORD” and His promises, then I have a mighty weapon to resist the tools of Satan.

Some leave it up to their CIRCUMSTANCES. God says, “In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) God is still God regardless of the waves, winds or any situations that come. God says to hold your faith steady on Him regardless of what comes your way.

Some leave it up to their OFFENSES. Jesus says in Luke 17:1 “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one they come through. He further tells us, “If one sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you saying, “I repent, you must forgive him.” You become the loser if you hold on to your offense. Is anybody or anything worth losing your joy over? Jesus reminds us, “You can’t be forgiven of your own sins unless you forgive others.”

Some leave it up to CHANCE. As born again believers, we don’t live by luck or chance. I live my life by God’s Word, His favor and blessings.”Let God”, not CHANCE fill your life with Joy. ^{8 “}Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only THEN will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8)