How To Have Joy One Day At A Time Series

JOYUL LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME

(The Christian Life from A to Z)

Bob Marcaurelle (meadowbrookbaptist.cc)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” (Galatians 5)

A. THE DUTY TO HAVE JOY (Philippians 4:4-6; 1:14 )

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice.” / “Because of my chains, most of my brothers in the Lord have been encouraged.”

We all want the same thing. Some get married to find it and some get divorced. Some make money and others give money away. We want to be happy. God also wants it for us. Describing mature Christian character (the fruit of the Spirit), God puts love first; joy second; and peace next. He doesn’t just want it He commands it (Phil.4:4).

He wants it because He loves us. Every good parent wants his child to be happy. He wants it to empower our service. Nehemiah told discouraged workers their joy would be their strength (8:10). 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

If we are miserable, ungrateful people we will not feel like getting into our Bibles; spending time in prayer; taking any responsibility in our church; or taking time to help others.

God wants it because of our influence. When Paul was in prison (Acts 28) he wrote Philippians, his most joy filled letter and because of it others were encouraged to do better. (Phil.4:14)

The best argument for Christianity is a good Christian; one who does not whine when life knocks him down. We don’t have to clap our hands and say, “Praise the Lord”, though we may. Our unshakable peace in times of trouble is our best testimony.

A man told a Christian, “You Christians are only dreaming.” “Maybe so” the Christian replied, “but please don’t wake me up because its wonderful.” To have a joyful life:

B. THE DIRECTIONS TO FIND JOY

1. Live Right (Isaiah 48:22)

“The Lord says, there is no peace for the wicked.”

The biggest problem in Christianity today is that we put happiness first and God puts holiness first. What they don’t realize is that happiness is the reward of holiness. To those who seek to be good; to please the Lord; to serve and love others; God gives the blessing of happiness. If we go after it, like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we never find it, but if we go after goodness, we do.

2. Face Life One Day at a Time (Deuteronomy 33:25)

“As your days are, so will your strength be.”

Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow.”(Matthew 6:34) and Paul says, “Forgetting what lies behind me; I reach forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13). We can take anything today. Failure today does not mean we are failures; it means we have the chance to do better tomorrow. God assigned the rugged hill country to the tribe of Asher and promised them, “As your days are, so will your strength be.”

A different twist on this comes from Thoreau, “The contemplation of suicide has gotten many a person through a difficult night.” Of course, our course is far better than this, but it shows the power of human nature created in God’s image to endure almost anything

3. Choose to Be Joyful Today (Psalm 118:24)

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad and in it.”

We do what we make up our minds to do. Put a smile on your face if you have to starch it. Rise and shine don’t rise and whine. Say, Good Morning, Lord, not, Good Lord! Morning!

A psychiatrist asked a lady, “Do you wake up grouchy every morning?” She said, “No, I let him sleep.” Lincoln said, “Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Since joy is commanded, it is a choice. We choose to be thermometers or thermostats. Thermometers register what is around them; thermostats change it. When bad things happen we have a bad day. When good things happen we have a good day. We place our happiness in the hands of others.

A lady told a psychologist, “This kid is driving me crazy.” The doctor said, “Let me get this right. You have given your mental balance to a 3-year-old.”

Joy comes from within; good things can’t produce it and bad things can’t take it away. Paul said in prison “I have learned to be content.” (Philippians 4:12-13) It takes time and effort.

4. Expect Irritations Today (Song of Solomon 2:15)

“Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vine”.

God punished farmer Adam with briars (Genesis 3); what we call “Murphy’s Laws.” Simple things aren’t! Self starters won’t! If you don’t want to meet someone, you will!

It irritated college president George Washington Carver when his young students cut across his beautiful lawns. He would run out and yell at those who did it. Realizing how foolish and frustrating this was, he solved the problem. Everywhere he saw a footpath he put a sidewalk.