Seek true joy (1)

True joy only comes to those who have devoted themselves to something bigger than their own happiness and personal interests. Nehemiah told the Israelites, 'Don't be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong' (Nehemiah 8:10 NCV). True joy always involves three things: (1) A conscious decision to focus every day on God's goodness; (2) Reaching out to bless others every chance we get; (3) Understanding that joy produces strength, which explains why our joy is so high on the devil's hit list. If we lose our joy, we lose our strength!

There are basically three kinds of people: (1) The joy-guilty: who believe we are not supposed to be happy and have fun because life is to be handled seriously. These people feel guilty about feeling good; (2) The joy-angry: who've been hurt by life and whose anger simmers just beneath the surface. If we let them, they will turn our sunshine to rain because our joy bothers them; (3) The joy-factory: producing joy everywhere they go. When we are around them, they breathe life into us.

If we are joy-guilty or joy-angry, let's spend some time with a joy factory. We'll find their joy has nothing to do with how easy their life has been, or how much money they have. More likely they have had a revelation about God that we need to get too.

So what now? Put 'seeking out true joy' very high up on your personal priority list and get your strength back.

— SCRIPTURE —

'The joy of the Lord is your strength.' Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

Isa 58-62, John 8:31-41, Ps 115, Pro 28:27-28