Lydia on a lamppost
Day 1 – Monday
Today is the first day I’m focusing on a spiritual fruit and journaling my experiences. I picked joy. Although it’s my middle name, I feel like I used to be a lot more joyful when I was younger! I know there are lots of Biblical ways to lead a joy-filled life and I want to explore some of those.
Psalm 16:11 talks about fullness of joy being found in the Lord’s presence. How often do I try and find joy and happiness through things other than God himself? Yes, those things can bring temporary joy but I know we can only be truly joy-filled through Him.
Lord, help me to hunger for your presence. Teach me to yearn for it, to soak in it. Bring me joy through you and you alone!
Day 2 – Tuesday
Today I was thinking about joy and righteousness and their relationship to one another. As Proverbs 10:28 says, the hope of the righteous shall be joy.
The thing I love about this is that the righteousness mentioned doesn’t come from us trying to reach Heaven’s perfection under our own steam. That righteousness is only found through Christ’s sacrifice!
I snapped at my siblings today. Most definitely not a good way to find or bring joy! Oh dear.
Day 3 – Wednesday
James 1:2-4 talks about considering it pure joy when we face trials, because the testing of our faith develops perseverance. This is about finding joy in all of our nasty circumstances because we’re trusting God and know he’s got it all under control!
Easy to say. Hard to do.
When life goes pear shaped on you and you feel totally overwhelmed it’s so hard to trust God and even harder still to consider your trials JOY!
Day 4 – Thursday
Conclusion
It was a neat experience, journaling my joy quest. I will definitely be drawing on the things I’ve learnt in the future. It’s so easy to be critical and complain and discourage…. But so worth it to focus on being joyful!
Challenge
Have you ever focused on a spiritual fruit for a week? I challenge you today to do it! Journal your thoughts, your experiences and what happens. (For extra points.... do a blog post about it!)
Have a blessed, joyful day!
Psalm 16:11 talks about fullness of joy being found in the Lord’s presence. How often do I try and find joy and happiness through things other than God himself? Yes, those things can bring temporary joy but I know we can only be truly joy-filled through Him.
Lord, help me to hunger for your presence. Teach me to yearn for it, to soak in it. Bring me joy through you and you alone!
Day 2 – Tuesday
Today I was thinking about joy and righteousness and their relationship to one another. As Proverbs 10:28 says, the hope of the righteous shall be joy.
The thing I love about this is that the righteousness mentioned doesn’t come from us trying to reach Heaven’s perfection under our own steam. That righteousness is only found through Christ’s sacrifice!
I snapped at my siblings today. Most definitely not a good way to find or bring joy! Oh dear.
Day 3 – Wednesday
James 1:2-4 talks about considering it pure joy when we face trials, because the testing of our faith develops perseverance. This is about finding joy in all of our nasty circumstances because we’re trusting God and know he’s got it all under control!
Easy to say. Hard to do.
When life goes pear shaped on you and you feel totally overwhelmed it’s so hard to trust God and even harder still to consider your trials JOY!
Day 4 – Thursday
We’re told in Acts 20:35 that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. This is so true, especially when it comes to encouragement. It is truly a blessing to be able to give away encouragement and spread joy!
Today I wrote a note for a friend and spent a while writing encouragement, drawing cute doodles on the envelope and praying for her. I felt joyful knowing the joy she will feel when she receives it!
Day 5 – Friday
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. Being thankful to God about the oodles of blessings he’s given to us is a great way to find joy.
How easy to complain, and how one must really set one’s mind to it when one decides to be thankful and joyful in all circumstances! I had to stop myself so many times when I noticed myself about to complain.
Today I wrote a note for a friend and spent a while writing encouragement, drawing cute doodles on the envelope and praying for her. I felt joyful knowing the joy she will feel when she receives it!
Day 5 – Friday
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. Being thankful to God about the oodles of blessings he’s given to us is a great way to find joy.
How easy to complain, and how one must really set one’s mind to it when one decides to be thankful and joyful in all circumstances! I had to stop myself so many times when I noticed myself about to complain.
Conclusion
It was a neat experience, journaling my joy quest. I will definitely be drawing on the things I’ve learnt in the future. It’s so easy to be critical and complain and discourage…. But so worth it to focus on being joyful!
Challenge
Have you ever focused on a spiritual fruit for a week? I challenge you today to do it! Journal your thoughts, your experiences and what happens. (For extra points.... do a blog post about it!)
Have a blessed, joyful day!
I like that photo of the lamp post!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Clare! That's sweet. It's just a cellphone photo.
DeleteHi Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Sounds like a valuable exercise to do.
How would you define 'joy'?
Philip
Hi Philip,
DeleteThank you for your comment. And good question, too.
My definition of joy would be similar to the dictionary's definition I guess. A feeling of pleasure or happiness. Great delight.
However it's important to note that we can rejoice and be joyful in circumstances where we don't actually feel happy or delighted. Joy can be a feeling... however it can also be a choice. In which case I like this definition too (by Rick Warren I believe):
Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.