What is God’s secret to Restore Your Joy?
Once your joy is lost, how do you recover it?
Today, through scripture we’re going to discover God’s secret to get our joy back. I’ve tried it. It works!
And we’re going to learn how to keep our joy!
Dave told 2 stories – one about conflict that drained him of joy and sapped his energy, the second about a good time at a home fellowship where there was great joy and everyone was energized.
The Bible tells us in God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). We were created to be creatures of joy. We are wired for joy. Holy Spirit creates joy in us – the God kind of joy. (Galatians 5:22) Think about how joy affects you.
Joy is medicine, a tonic for the soul:
Proverbs 17:22 EXB
A happy heart ·is like good medicine [L brings healing], but a broken spirit ·drains your strength [L dries up bone].
Proverbs 17:22 TPT
A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.
We live in a world filled with stress, conflict, trials and problems that wear us out and drag us down. It is easy to let our thoughts wander into darkness as we think about the difficult and painful things we are going through.
Supernatural joy is the answer to much of the mental and physical pain we experience from living in a fallen world.
God’s Joy is Not Weak Like the Joy of Man
Human joy is fleeting at best, elusive in the worst times. Human joy comes and goes based on circumstances - what is happening around us and to us and to those we care about.
The fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us isn't fickle, fleeting, even elusive. No human being has this joy - only those who received it from God.
This joy laughs at circumstances. It lifts you above whatever life has thrown at you.
What is God’s Secret to Restoring Your Joy?
This is Today’s Activation. As You Learn God’s process to restore Your joy, do it.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18 NIV
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
GIVE THANKS
Giving thanks renews our thoughts. Giving thanks takes our minds off of our problems and pain and focuses our thoughts on all the good things in our lives – all the good that God is doing and has done for us because He loves us.
PRAY
Praying. You and I are not wired or equipped to carry heavy problems, fears, stress, anger or any negative emotion. Dark thoughts hurt us. So what can we do?
Pray 1 Peter 5: 7 (NLT):
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Invite God into your problems and pain. Turn it over to Him. He cares about you. He will help you through whatever you face.
And peace will come to your mind and heart.
Philippians 4:6-8 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NOW, REJOICE
You have given thanks. You have cast your cares on God and He has replaced worry and pain with peace. Now rejoice. Renew your joy. Tell God specific things that you rejoice for.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18 NIV
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The simple truth is that joy is a choice. Ouch! Sometimes, I don’t want to hear that.
WE think: “But, I have a right to be upset.” Or “Of course, I’m worried. I should be.” Those thoughts are lies from hell. They will take you to dark places. Get off those trains of thought!!
Renew your mind by giving thanks and praying through problems, and rejoicing.
That is How God restores joy to us no matter what our circumstances.
If this podcast helped you regain your joy, please leave me a text or voicemail on 10minutetransformation.com. I’d love to hear your stories. Click on the microphone icon and leave a voicemail or send me a text on the connect page. Thanks!