Having Joy in Your Heart

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God." Psalm 40:3

What would our life be without joy? We would be like a violin out of tune...such harsh sounds. Life wihtout joy is like a boneout of joint; it doesn't function properly, and it gives pain with each movement. We cannot do anything well without joy. Joy causes us to greet one another when the circumstances of life casue us to think, "I don't want to meet anyone today. Let me roll around in my own pity."

Lack of joy causes heartache within our own personal life, but it also overflows into the lives around us. What does it really mean to have joy in our life? Happiness and fun are good, but they come and go with circumstances. Joy, however, is felt beyond our circumstances. Joy can be experienced even when times are difficult.

Joy is an attitude we have toward life's experiences. It is a treasure of the heart, a comforting knowing of God's intimate presence. As we view the events of our life, we cab choose to be resentful to God for letting certain things happen to us, or we can choose an attitude of gratitude and a commitment to joy. Joy is by far the best choice.

We have joy when we are serving God and doing what He wants for our lives. We have joy when we learn to take our circumstances and the ups and downs of life in stride and use all situations to bring glory to God. We lighten our load in life and draw other people to us by having a joyful heart. When we have joy in the Lord, we begin to see life from God's point of view, and we realize that things have never looked so beautiful, so peaceful, so amazing.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.