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When I look at my grandchildren they are so full of joy.

Joy is an interesting emotion. A lot of people confuse it with happiness. Happiness is fleeting and is caused by particular circumstances or events. Joy endures regardless of trials and tribulations.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

When you think about it joy is in the top two fruits of the spirit, second only to love. So it’s pretty important

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

I’ve noticed I am a pretty serious person with a bit of a Martha attitude. I’m always thinking about what needs to be done and of course doing it. I seem to find it hard to relax. I’d really like to chill a bit and cultivate an attitude of joy and grow that fruit 🍇 in my life. Perhaps, you need to consider this too.

So how might we go about developing joy in our lives?

We notice the blessings in our lives. We may start by identifying three things we are grateful for every day. Then we express our gratitude to God and the people who bless us. Remembering to bring our awareness to new ones daily and not just go over the old gratitude list.

We make time to praise and worship God. This might be through song or it can be spoken words. Sometimes it’s silence and coming into His presence.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

We read our bible and recall all the blessings God has bestowed on His people. We acknowledge these promises are for us too.

We share our testimony with others, letting them know how God has blessed us. This births hope and joy in ourselves and the people we are sharing with.

Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.

Romans 12:12 (TPT)

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