Studying God’s Word has radically changed my life, and it has opened my eyes to the way God wants me to live. One of my favorite scriptures I cling to is John 10:10: I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance!! This verse tells me that God doesn’t just want us to be alive, but He wants us to live with joy-abundant, overflowing joy! Have you ever wondered how you can have that kind of joy in your own life? This joy from God is not just a “happy feeling” based on our circumstances. The joy God gives is a peace and contentment to our soul even when are circumstances are difficult and don’t seem to make any sense. This joy is found in knowing Christ as your personal savior and receiving the hope that He offers you.
One key to choosing joy is getting our mind off ourselves. I have found when I focus my attention on helping others and improving someone else’s life, I experience tremendous joy. Just imagine how different the world would be if everyone would just do one nice thing to help someone else every day. It can be so simple to put a smile on someone’s face! Give a compliment, give something away, take the time to listen, open a door for someone, the list could go on and on. Begin taking even just a few minutes every day to think about what you can do to help someone else. It’s the quickest way to add joy to your life!
Most important, our joy comes from God, and He doesn’t want us to rely on anything but Him. When we choose to fix our attention on God and rejoice in the good things He has done, we make Him bigger than our problems. He wants us to have joy in Him, even when life isn’t perfect. With God’s help and your determination, you can learn to genuinely enjoy every single day of your life.
