6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy
Thanksgiving Day is a wrap. Now we press onward to the joy of Christmas.
But in reflection on how I move from one holiday to the next, I asked myself a few questions. Am I placing a check mark beside gratitude on some proverbial good list? Then leaving it in the dust of my tracks while celebrating Christmas?
Sometimes.
So, this year I plan to wed an attitude of gratitude to one of rejoicing.
Celebrating appeals to most of us. Yet, real joyfulness is often the end result of God’s faithful promises. And it’s…
~ Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people.
~ The best medicine for a downcast spirit.
~ A shield against attacks from the enemy.
Let’s look at it in a broader sense.
Not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joy.
Unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through. God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that. He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.
Unlike images, there's not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through. Click To TweetI love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. After each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.
6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy:
1.) In salvation.
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that. He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul. #blogger Click To Tweet
2.) In God’s works.
“… for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7
“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Psalm 92:4
“Shouts of joy resound in the tents of the righteous. The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things.” Psalm 118:15
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
3.) In God’s Word.
“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
4.) In God’s strength.
“… for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Isaiah 8:10
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
(Read my blog post on strength.)
5.) In God’s presence.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
6.) In Jesus.
His birth.
The wise men, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10
Angels proclaimed to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10b
His resurrection.
Women who visited the empty tomb. “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:1, 8
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
A Merry and Joyful Christmas
A real Merry (joyful) Christmas celebrates the wondrous fulfillment of a full circle of events.
Jesus came from glory to the manger…to the cross…to a tomb that couldn’t hold Him, ascending back to heaven’s glory. Oh, what a Savior!
Is my joy showing through? Because there’s no filter for joy. Real joy is never shaken or taken. Click To TweetWhat aspect of the refrain resonates most with you?
*All Scripture ESV.
Featured/top photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash.
Middle photo by Brandi Redd on Unsplash
Bottom photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Debbie Kitterman/#Dare2Hear, Lori Schumaker/#momentsofhope, Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2018 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
I think often we confuse happiness and joy. Joy expands beyond happiness and is so much greater.
Calleen, I so agree. Joy is greater and deeper and broader than happiness. Happiness is often based on our present circumstances, while joy is cultivated internally and therefore cannot be changed by outside agents. Thanks for commenting.
Karen, I love how you keep truth and Jesus right in front of us. This post continues that thread…a good one as we enter the Christmas season, the entire year as well. Sometimes I have to sit and look at myself, at the situation, and remember there’s joy. I’ll be honest, discouragement attempts to steal gratitude and the feeling of joy, but then again, it’s usually because focus isn’t solely on Christ. True joy never taken or shaken. Merry Christmas! #heartencouragement
Thank you, Kristi. I pray the Lord helps us keep our focus on Him and to see joy from His perspective. I pray He helps us see joy as more…not just what we already believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we LIVE joy.
Karen, you are so right – there IS no filter for joy. It radiates through us to others. Let us keep Christmas joy in our hearts all year long.
Blessings!
Yes, Martha! Let’s keep Christmas joy in our hearts and soul every day.
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joy.
Real joy is never shaken or taken.
Blessings, friend!
Haha! We must have been on the same wavelength with our posts. In any case I should have consulted you first. What a beautiful piece!
I really like the refrain. There is no filter for joyful. That’s quite a statement. How many times have I filtered the joy in my life? Too often. I allow circumstances to screen out the good things God has done or is doing. It’s humbling that God keeps showing up when I don’t celebrate him like I should.
Enjoyed your piece as well, Chip. It is easy for us to filter our outside, any flaws we see and want to fix. But Jesus alone filters the heart…the inside. There’s just no way around it…there’s not a filter for joyful. Never has been nor will ever be. Joy comes from God alone: His salvation, works, Word, presence and through Jesus birth and resurrection. May it live on in us!
“Is my joy showing through?” I pray His joy will shine through me in each moment. 🙂
Me too, Melissa. May it radiate through and show the joy of Jesus to others.
I love this! It really makes you think, are there really any reasons for why we should not have joy. We have Jesus and that is more than enough to be joyful about! Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks so much, Angela. And what a great way to look at joy. We do have Jesus and He is enough to shout for joy! Oh, joy to the world! We have and serve a risen Savior!
I love this line, Karen:
____________
So, this year I plan to wed an attitude of gratitude to one of rejoicing.
____________
This has me evaluating how I approach the holidays and making me look at what I can do to show and share my gratitude throughout the season. Thank you.
Hey Stephanie,
Appreciate your thoughts. May we really evaluate how we celebrate the holidays and marry the perspective of thanksgiving with joy in a Savior’s birth. Because real joy is never shaken or taken!
He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul. AMEN ! And just knowing that brings to our souls.
Yes, Lord, bring your joy back to us anytime we lose that sense of wonder and awe in You.
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23
Karen, I really enjoyed your post. It is a great reminder that happiness is determined and influenced by our circumstances. Whereas joy can be experienced in any circumstance because it is based in God – his nature, his works, his Word, strength. And because these never changes, we should be able to feel joy regardless of what we are walking through. But it takes work to find and experience joy in all situations and your suggestions are great reminders how we can help build the strong foundation of a heart of gratitude that leads to find joy in all seasons.
Anne, I like that…”build a strong foundation of a heart of gratitude that leads to find joy in all seasons.” Yes! So thankful real joy isn’t based on anything besides Jesus himself.
Real joy is never shaken or taken in spite of the circumstances! Even the awful medical procedure today – praise God! This is the truth that follows us through life. Jesus gets us through. He never leaves us and never forsakes us, and in his presence is fullness of joy! Thank you for this blessed reminder today, Karen! You always encourage!
Thank you, Melinda. “Shouts of joy resound in the tents of the righteous. The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things.” Psalm 118:15
I pray shouts of joy resound in the Inman tent today!
I just finished reading another blog on joy by Chip Mathis (https://chipmattis.com/2018/11/29/3-simple-lessons-to-be-more-joyful/), and both are so appropriate for this time of year. Our holidays should be filled with the joy and peace of Christ, but instead, commercialization has robbed us of these. Wonderful blog Karen.
I know, Yvonne. Chip and I both realized our “joy” posts yesterday. 🙂 But yes, we think of joy this time of year. I pray we grab hold of real joy in Jesus and never let it go! Thanks!
I love Psalm 16:11. I am really focused right now on seeking and appreciating God’s presence. I just crave it!!
So do I, Abby. When I think about how God says real fullness of joy is only found in His presence, we should crave it as you said!
“There’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through.” That’s a great concept and truth, Karen. Am I a photoshopped image of joy, or is it real from deep down inside, a result of embracing God’s many faithful promises. I will be bringing this thought into the Christmas season. Joyful Christmas to you and your beautiful, growing family.
I like that, Stephen, “Am I a photoshopped image of joy, or is it real deep….” Amen! What a great thought! I pray you have a joyful Christmas as well. The wise men, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10
Dear Karen,
What a wonderful post! To take the gratitude from Thanksgiving and carry it as joy into the Advent season! I really needed this reminder. Thank you. I truly appreciate how you help me anchor my soul in the truth of scripture, for when I fill myself with God’s Word it is bigger than anything else I am feeling or experiencing. God bless you!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Melissa. You bless me in encouragement and in your anointed posts both on your blog and on Twitter. We’re Jesus Girls together. 🙂
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
You quote one of my favorite verses: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
I often return to this verse to remind me that the fullness of joy to be found is only found in the presence of our God. When we can trust that God will (not may) make known to us the path of life, we can rest in his timing. Thank you, Karen, for your insight on joy! 🙂
That’s so true, Marcie. I love Psalm 16:11 too. And if we simply remember going to God’s presence brings “fullness” of joy. I think every other joy the world offers is false and falls short of what we really need. Thanks for commenting.
I love these six things for us to rejoice! While circumstances ebb and flow, these never change. Hallelujah!
Thank you, Karen. And as we celebrate Christmas, excitement is in the air for…“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10 🙂