Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
How do we choose to rejoice and experience joy as Paul commands us to do in Philippians 4:4? I spent a lot of time last week thinking and praying on how I could “choose” joy. It seems akin to having someone tell you, “clean your desk,” perfunctory and necessary, but not spontaneous and organic.
Joy is an attitude.
Paul talks about being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” Our joy is not subject to our circumstances, but real joy can exist while pain and suffering are present. This seems impossible because we have confused joy with the concept of happiness. Happiness is contingent upon favorable circumstances. Joy is an attitude that God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.
After spending a week pondering on all of this, the words of C.S. Lewis took me to a deeper place of understanding and appreciation for true biblical joy.
“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still about to be.” - C.S. Lewis
This line of reasoning has helped me see that when we experience joy, it’s a result of seeing heaven’s economy aligned and being lived out on earth. When we walk in fellowship and love with one another, when the gospel is preached, when we walk in obedience, joy is released. Whenever we are joyful, it makes us long for more of Jesus, the One who said he came to make our joy complete. Joy leads us to desire more life to the fullest – which as Jesus followers, will be fully realized when we are with Jesus in heaven.
Joy is the sense that for that moment, everything you are experiencing is right. One example that comes to mind for me are the memories of watching my son, Michael, perform in dramatic musicals. There is an unexplainable joy when you see someone walking in their calling, gifting, and small parts of their destiny.
It is the values and desires of the King being walked out on earth.
Last Sunday I suggested eight ways that will help us to “choose joy.” I'm sharing them here with you today because I think they are important pathways to help us recover our joy. I encourage you to consider which of these ways you can focus on to experience joy once again.
Practice Gratitude
Brené Brown says, “I will practice gratitude to access joy.” Joy is always a byproduct of walking in a thankful heart posture. Choosing to remember what God has done for you will bring joy and faith for this moment and for the future.
Focus On Others
Philippians 2 talks about really focusing on serving others and putting others first. This was the attitude of Jesus, the most joyful person who lived on earth. Serving others helps you find purpose – walking in your purpose and destiny always releases joy.
Fellowship With Others
During this pandemic season, this one requires a bit of creativity, but it’s still possible to have true heart-connection over the things of God with others. The phone is still very helpful to maintain relationship and connection.
Think God Thoughts
Paul talks several places in his letters about setting our minds on things above. It was once said, “whatever you think about grows large in you.” Setting our minds on the things of heaven will lead to a release of joy. What are you thinking about?
Gather Stories
Often we call these testimonies…these are the stories that give God glory for what he has done in our lives and produces thanksgiving, which in turn, will result in joy.
Obey God
Jesus talks in John 15 about the vine and the branches and our how we are connected to Him. In the midst of this passage He explains the connection between loving Him and obeying Him. He tells us that He wants our joy to be full – and that happens by living in obedience and love.
Seek After Jesus
Matthew 6:33 tells us that when we seek after Jesus and His Kingdom, everything else will be added to us, and that includes joy! If you want to experience joy, you need to experience Jesus.
Celebrate Wins
Look for good things to celebrate. Celebrate any successes, miracles, or stories of God’s faithfulness. Watch them online on YouTube, have your friends tell you stories, read about the saints, and even celebrate the wins in the Bible.
Which pathway will you choose?
Lists can make things seem more simple than what’s real. I encourage you to focus on one or two of these pathways to choosing joy. Don’t take this list as commands, but rather suggestions and ideas from a fellow traveler who has found these pathways helpful. If you find other pathways that have been helpful, send a message back and let us know what they are!
May you find the Joy of the Lord to be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) in these complicated days!
If you would like to receive a word of encouragement each day, text the word Encourage to 530.296.3689. You will be added to the list to receive an encouraging scripture or quote from me each day that is sent right to your phone.
I look forward to seeing all of you who choose to worship with us in the Dome this Sunday at either 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. All safety precautions, masks, and social distancing apply.
You can also live stream our 11:00 a.m. service on Facebook and YouTube
If you missed last week's message, "Light in the Darkness," Advent Week 3: "Recovering Joy", click here.
