Cultivating Joy
12 PILLARS_JOY
Joy is not only a feeling; it is a state of being. The monotony of life, grief, and painful experiences can affect our joy, but when we keep our minds fixed on the goodness of God, our joy remains full. When you have the joy of the Lord in your heart, your circumstances are no longer a condition for happiness and contentment. We move beyond feeling happy and experience the kind of joy that only a life in Christ can giv
Psalm 4:7 - You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound (NASB).
In this scripture, King David says God has put more joy in his heart than those who have abundant grain and wine. An abundance of grain and wine could cause happiness, but it would be temporary and conditional because at some point you are going to run out and your supply is always dependent on farming conditions. The joy of the Lord never runs out.
Psalm 100: 4-5 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations (NASB).
We cultivate joy when we make praise and thanksgiving a regular part of our prayer time. God is worthy of our praise, and we should share our appreciation and thankfulness for His goodness in our lives. When we recall His goodness, our perspective of our problems shifts. In the way that moonlight shines brighter than darkness, Joy will outshine any problem you are facing. As you include praise and thanksgiving in your prayers, you will develop a joy that endures and supersedes any circumstance.
