How to increase your JOY

Do you ever feel like your Joy is just gone?  Its like all of the sudden you realize I'm just not happy.  Well friends truth is this is the state the enemy wants us to be in.  He doesn't care about our money or what we have, he realizes that "the Joy of the Lord is your Strength" Nehemiah 8:10.  If we are not strengthened then you will become weak.  Most times we don't realize that just right in front of us are the beautiful flowers, that God has given us to enjoy.  Just like many other things in life that we can enjoy they are just right there.

So what is Joy exactly?  Here is the definition of Joy 

joy- a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

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   synonyms:

   delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation,rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation,euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture;

   
   

   Most of these synonyms are found in the word.  Delight in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart, trump in the lord, exult the lord, rejoice and be glad to say a few.  Its been a long season of being busy, getting married, having a child and learning just how to be a wife and mom.  Lets face it if we don't make it a point to spend time with the Lord we will become tired, restless and joyless.  Spending time with God is the best way to be filled up in his Joy and to be strengthened for what ever the day may bring which is a whole lot right? The one who knows all things knows what we have need of. I love this verse, its always been a favorite. 

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

    Matthew 6:33-34

   
   

   33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

   34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

   
   

   
   

   So we must seek him and his kingdom first and all of his righteousness so he can add to us what we need to survive.  This is a beautiful thing, because pretty much trying to take care of myself doesn't always work.

   
   

   He is the one who will strengthen us, you may be saying well how do I do that when all of the sudden my joy is gone.  Well I would encourage for you to get into his presence.  You may need to sing a song to him, or sit in a quiet place and just talk let out what your feeling, or maybe you may just need to shout to the Lord. This works sometimes I will just shout really loud Hallelujah! The highest praise and its like whatever is going on just breaks.  See as a Worship Leader and someone who just loves worship I have found this is the place where I really feel Gods presence and its also where I hear him.  Its amazing that he has provided us with everything we need, we just need to go to him. 

   
   

   
   

   Psalm 16:11

   King James Version (KJV)

   
   

   11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

   
   

   
   

   So thankful that we are not alone and that we can go to God and he will make a way for each one of us.  That is the beauty of it.  Realizing we get to get up everyday and choose life or not is a choice. So recently I have just choose Joy.  I will stop and thank God and realize not everything is going to go my way, but I can chose to think on all the great things God has already done and get in his presence so I can be full of Joy.  Here is another scripture that is great, because so a man thinkth in his heart so he is- proverbs 23:7, our thoughts also play a big part.  Well if you think you are than you are.  This is why we need Gods word and we need him.  His word is full of who he says we are.  Here is my last scripture I will share today.

   
   

   
   

   Philippians 4:8

   King James Version (KJV)

   
   

   8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

   
   

   
   

   This I believe is the key to Increasing your joy! Thinking on whatever is is lovely, pure and of good report.  As well as more time with God and positioning your heart in a place of worship, God wants to speak to you friend.  Whenever your heart is heavy and it seems joy is gone write a list of all the amazing things you are thankful for, and get before God and ask him to fill you with Joy! One thing I have been doing lately is just going for walks and taking pictures of beautiful moments in my life, or doing the same in my home, enjoying what has already been given.  Be blessed, and if you need prayer you have a friend here always willing.