Take back your joy!

What is it that may have stolen your joy this morning? For me, it's often that one negative email among the other fifty positive ones that manages to spoil my state of mind… 

But are those joy-spoilers (generally little things, if we're honest) really important enough to derail us? If we take a closer look, we quickly realize that these often "trivial" things aren't worth the joy we lose! That's why, today, I'd like to explore changing certain habits we may have because…

"If joy can be stolen, it can be taken back!"

friend, I have a vivid memory of taking a train without a ticket when I was a child. I had no money with me that day, but of course I had to get home. Though the ticket cost less than a euro, the fact that I'd stolen stressed me out the whole night!

Have you ever done something that plagued your conscience? Even if we don't always notice it right away, our consciences continue to work subconsciously, and this is often when we lose our joy. But when we admit our guilt and, if possible, correct our mistakes, our joy and peace often return. 

The Bible tells us that "'He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.'" (Luke 16:10, NKJV) Convicted, I went to the train station the next morning, bought a ticket, and threw it away. And as I threw it away, I found my peace and yes, my joy, again!

Things like this may sound relatively small, but they're actually subconscious joy stealers that steadily creep in. So I'd like to encourage you…make sure to pay close attention to them today! Don't allow them to rob you of your joy in the long-term. As you listen to the Holy Spirit, He will show you how to respond and what to do. :-)

friend, even if there's a deeper, very serious reason you're finding it difficult to smile today, I'd like to reassure you…because of our amazing God, you always have a reason to smile: "'...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'" (Nehemiah 8:10, NKJV)! 

Shall we pray for this together? "Jesus, thank You for giving me a joy-filled life! Please help me to protect that joy. I so want to share this divine joy—the joy that can only come from You—with the people around me. I ask for Your grace to spread Your joy every day! In Jesus' name, amen."

Wishing you the most joyful day ever!

You are a miracle!