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the real joy


Psalm 51:12  NLT
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Joy can be something that we had in the past but isn’t thought about much any more.  When Jesus became our Savior, we were full of joy and excited about what is ahead.  But in the days since we allow the things of the world to push out the joy we had a first.

Sometime ago I heard a talk given about keeping your joy.  The points I share with you are from that talk, and honestly, I don’t remember where I was or who shared.  But these things stick out in my mind.  May God use these to help us restore our joy.

5 ways to keep your joy.

1. Know who you are.

2. Know they you are forgiven.

3. Know that you are unique, blessed and have potential.

4. Know you have an awesome future.

5. Know you make your Heavenly Father smile.

Each of those points is filling with possibilities that will change our lives.  But hold on a minute.  All of these points are already true.  They are not something for the future.  They are to be held and claimed today.

Isaiah 12:3  NLT
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

Know who you are.  You and I are God’s kids.  He first made us, and then God bought us through the gift and sacrifice of His son on the cross.  That is where forgiveness comes in to play because God forgave our sins past, present and future.

Habakkuk 3:18  NLT
yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Our potential is fulfilled in the fact that we are unique.  Ephesians 1:3 says we are blessed with “every spiritual blessing” from God.  Our real potential is endless. 

1 Thessalonians 2:19  NLT
After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns?  It is you!

That last verse is what puts the smile on God’s face.  That is you and me.  God loves us with all that he is.  We make God smile as we live for him.  That gives me loads of joy and excitement to live even more for Him.

Take the verse we began with … restore my joy … make me willing … To be willing to do God’s will opens up the possibilities for even more joy.  That has a prerequisite of wanting more of God and thinking less about me or us. 

Joy is a big deal.  I need more of it.  How about you?
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