Steps To Joy

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Steps to Joy

Mustard Seed Thoughts

Always be full of joy in the Lord. Philippians 4:4 NLT

I wake up most mornings in a fairly good mood. My family may disagree, but at least in the way I feel, I’m not in a bad mood. I have my moments though when for whatever reason, the “joy of the Lord” isn’t evident in my life to the people around me. Is that true for you as well?

How can we be always full of joy? That seems like such a good goal, but so hard to ever attain. What would my house, or your house, be like if we were always filled with joy?

In this series of devotionals I want to share four steps to remaining in joy that are found in the passage which begins with today’s verse. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, ask the Lord to fill you with His joy. The Psalmist King David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” (Psalm 51) I think God honors that prayer.

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Steps to Joy, Part 2

Mustard Seed Thoughts

Do not be anxious about anything, Philippians 4:6a

If you want to continue to live in the emotion of joy, here’s step one: Worry about nothing!

Don’t worry about anything! What a command! What a challenge! How are you doing in this area?

Why is it so important to get rid of worry in our life? Because worry and trust don’t work together. Being a worrier and having faith are diabolically opposed to each other. You can’t do both at the same time. When you are worrying you are not trusting and when you are trusting you are not worrying.

There was a study done on the things we worry about. It found that only 8% of the things we worry about are actual, legitimate concerns. The rest are things from the past, things out of our control, or things which are so minor they have no real impact on us.

What would it be like to reduce the amount you worry by 92%? Jesus told us to reduce worry by concentrating on today; by handling one day at a time. In Matt 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself…each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It’s so hard to be experience joy when we are worried. Try to reduce your worry time today.

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Steps to Joy, Part 3

Mustard Seed Thoughts

“but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6b NIV

Step two to living in a state of joy: Pray about everything.

Prayer is simply talking to God. You don’t have to be a great Bible scholar to be a great person of prayer. In fact, Jesus criticized those who tried to impress people with their great sounding prayers.

God wants a relationship with you and prayer is the way we carry out that relationship. God is concerned about the big things and the small things of your life. There is nothing you can’t pray about.

One of my friends says that something happens when he prays. Prayer doesn’t always change the situation; at least not immediately, but prayer always changes the person praying. There is a strength in praying that can’t be understood until you pray.

1 Peter 5:7 in The Living Bible says, “Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” Are there some worries in your life you are ready to get rid of? Dump them on God! Let Him take over the worry department. Prayer is a tremendous way to relieve the stress of worry.

If you want more joy in your life: Worry less and pray more! Turn your worry time into prayer time!