1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Be joyful always;

[Blooming_Violet]

What do you do to stay joyful? What things bring you joy daily? What tangible things keep you joyful in the midst of difficult circumstances?

God says be joyful ALWAYS. I am thankful that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. I am thankful that we can trust Him with our lives. I am thankful that He never gives us more than we can bear. (Although I often wonder about the last one I am thankful that He still uses us in the midst of our circumstances for His glory.

It is not always easy in difficult circumstances to stay joyful especially when the race you are running is very long and feels like there is no end in sight. Everyone goes through difficult circumstances in this world. Please share things of joy or how you stay joyful. How do you make a joyful life when perhaps you cannot control your circumstances like lack of freedom, poverty, health, caring for loved ones, etc. There are many things that we cannot control that do not allow conventional wisdom to succeed.

So as Christians how do you maintain your joy?

 

[mule]

I find it joyous to talk about God. To share the scriptures. You want to see me light up with joy? Give me a chance to talk about my BELOVED.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell Him, that I am lovesick.

 

[Abiding]

To tell you the truth ...sometimes when im in a sad state nothing takes me out
till i just rejoice and give thankgiving....until im thankful and full of joy.

I wonder if thats why the word says to do these things. Such as rejoice! and again i say rejoice!

And in other places we are exhorted to give thanks in all things...then it says...for this is the will of God. amen

 

[Blooming_Violet]

1 Samuel 16:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

I was reminded this morning of the power of praise music. It definitely has the power to cut through the enemy and return joy. It is hard to create a habit of listening/singing, but it was a great help today.

 

[Blooming_Violet]

I find it joyous to talk about God. To share the scriptures. You want to see me light up with joy? Give me a chance to talk about my BELOVED.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell Him, that I am lovesick.

I am the same way. I just do not have that many opportunities. Does your life give you daily opportunities to talk about God? What else brings you joy or helps you be joyful always?

Blooming_Violet

 

[Blooming_Violet]

To tell you the truth ...sometimes when im in a sad state nothing takes me out
till i just rejoice and give thankgiving....until im thankful and full of joy.

I wonder if thats why the word says to do these things. Such as rejoice! and again i say rejoice!

And in other places we are exhorted to give thanks in all things...then it says...for this is the will of God. amen

Abiding,

So how do you "make" yourself rejoice when you are sad? Giving thanks is almost always how my prayer life starts. How do you turn the tears of sorrow into tears of joy?

Blooming_Violet

 

[Abiding]

Abiding,

So how do you "make" yourself rejoice when you are sad? Giving thanks is almost always how my prayer life starts. How do you turn the tears of sorrow into tears of joy?

Blooming_Violet

I spose i force myself to. And although alot of this is trust, I believe the rejoicing causes a true joy.
Also as i rejoice i ask the Lord for His grace.

Thanksgiving also causes me to see more to be thankful for and its always seems to produce more
the more thanks i give.

As far as turning tears of sorrow into tears of joy...im not sure that really happens...i think
both can go on at the same time. Not that i try to hold on to the sorrow..it seems at times
sorrow is appropriate. But peace and joy can be present also.

 

[pickles]

Be still and know that I am God.

This simple scripture holds everything when one seeks Him and wants to know perfect joy!
For our joy is that we know God Our creator, Father, Jesus Christ is Lord come in the flesh, His Holy Spirit!
When we are still, and know His perfect love, we know all is of His hand, at His right hand, and given by Him!
For it is in being still, that we know eternity in Him, and all that is His glory!

God bless
pickles

 

[Twinkle77]

My greatest joy is my salvation.
Whenever I go through difficult times, I do not outwardly express joy but there is a quiet deep joy inside my heart, thanking the Lord for my salvation. I just think of my salvation and that alone is my joy. It is sufficient for me.

 

[Blooming_Violet]

I just saw an ad in a magazine for a book called Choosing Joy by Angela Thomas. Has anyone read it?

 

[Bookends]

I find it joyous to talk about God. To share the scriptures. You want to see me light up with joy? Give me a chance to talk about my BELOVED.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my Beloved, that ye tell Him, that I am lovesick.

I am delighted in the fact that you see yourself as a daughter of Jerusalem! Many Christians see themselves separate from the Israel, the true Israel! The one from above.

Revelation 3:12
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

For this I am very Joyful. Live your life as if you were already in His Kingdom, because you are! Live in His resurrection.

Ephesians 2:5-6
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

 

[starfield]

Jesus Christ is my source of joy. I may not be happy about a situation but I still have inner satisfaction and peace because God is in control.
Abiding in His presence brings fullness of joy.
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

John 15:11
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.