7 WAYS TO BE MORE JOYFUL
Lord Jesus, teach me and my fellows how to have JOYFUL JOY.
Dear child: The answer to increase your joy is to do MORE.
1. Spend MORE time with me.
2. Serve others MORE.
3. Be MORE grateful.
4. Choose to be MORE joyful.
5. Be MORE joyful in the hard times.
6. Have MORE fellowship with other Christ-followers
7. Ask for MORE Joy.
1. SPEND MORE TIME WITH CHRIST
Child, spend more time with me: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 NIV.
Actions: I will spend more time in prayer and Bible study. I will make it a priority to spend time alone with you, Father God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, each and EVERY day in reading the Bible, praying, and worshiping. I humbly ask you Lord Jesus, please reveal yourself to me and my fellows, and to fill us with YOUR joy, the Joy of your Salvation, Redemption, and Eternal Life in You.
2. SERVE OTHERS MORE
Child, serve others. In forgetting yourself and helping others there is great joy. “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
Actions: Lord, I will serve others more. Lord Jesus, you taught me that when we serve others, we are serving you (Matthew 25:40). Lord, I will look for ways to serve those around me by increasing volunteering at SOLIDpastors.org, helping friends in AA get and stay sober, and showing kindness to all people, those close to me, and strangers. I will realize that serving others bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment in my life, which leads to greater joy in Christ.
3. BE MORE GRATEFUL
Dear child, my Scriptures are replete with commands and exhortations to be grateful and thankful, such as: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV and “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV and “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 NIV. Keep up your daily grateful list. It helps you be more grateful, and hence, joyful.
Actions: I will practice more gratitude. I will take more time each day to think about the blessings in my life, and thank God for them. I will realize that gratitude helps me shift my focus away from negative thoughts and towards the good things that you, God, have given me. Lord, today, I will make a longer list of things for which I am grateful for you tell me to “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 NIV. I will do a Top Ten list, instead of just a few.
4. CHOOSE TO BE MORE JOYFUL
Child, being joyful is a choice: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11 NIV and “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 NIV
Actions: Lord, today, I will consciously choose to be joyful. I will tell myself: “I have ever reason to be joyful. By being joyful, I will be more attractive to others and they will want what I have. I will remember the best evangelism is by attraction, not promotion. Today, I will be joyful!
5. BE MORE JOYFUL IN THE HARD TIMES
Dear child: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV and “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.” Philippians 4:6-7
Action: In all difficult situations I will call on your name, Lord Jesus, and ask for your joy, even in the midst of my difficulties.
6. HAVE MORE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRIST-FOLLOWERS
Dear child: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16 NIV and “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5 NIV
Actions: I will be intentional of having more fellowship with other Christ-followers. I will spend more time with other Christians who can encourage and uplift me up in my faith. I will put more energy into leading our small group Men’s Bible study, attend more church functions (like prayer night) and seek out more opportunities to connect with other believers. I “will reflect on your Holy Word Lord: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, … They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:42-47 NIV and “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
7. ASK FOR MORE JOY
Dear Child, ask for more joy and it will be given to you. Reflect on Matthew 7:7 and fully embrace my ASK principle: “7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NIV
Action: Lord, I ask you to please to give me and my fellows MORE of YOUR joy. Please fill us to the brim with your joy, so that we may be better witnesses of your presence in our lives, and attract more people to follow you. Amen.
Your aspiring servant,
Daniel M.
5 May 2023
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