Be Joyful

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1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always.
 
JOY is an elusive emotion, even difficult to define. We seem to rarely experience this extra measure of happiness and contentment. A joyful heart is often reserved for certain celebrations that mark achievement. Marriages, team championships, birthdays and surprises are moments of you - that extra heartfelt happiness. Everyday life is too encumbered with challenges to have room for constant joy, isn’t it? How then, do we obey God’s Word to be joyful always?
   Let’s begin to answer this in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  These are nine separate marks of a faithful Christian life called “fruit of the Spirit”. The singular “fruit” represents a total picture of the Holy Spirit’s heart-changing power. They are a measure of the Spirit’s sanctifying process in our faith life. In other words, developing the traits of the fruit helps us to live as Christ. As we’ve written on patience and peace to this point, we know that growing God’s fruit requires special attention, so the fruit can grow to help us experience its benefits.
   Constant joy, then, is an attitude of the heart that responds to your salvation – not to daily events. The world can keep joy in a dark tunnel if we wait for the perfect moment to express heartfelt delight and happiness. A Spirit-given joy is much more than a moment or day of happiness. God’s joy is a deep understanding your life belongs to Jesus. The world promises many ways to be happy. But there is no way to true joy until God leads you to him.
   Joy is a mindset that all is well in your soul and your eternal life. Joy overcomes fear, sadness, frustration and regret when you live in assurance you belong to Jesus. Joy is knowing Jesus is your Good Shepherd. You realize his commitment to you as he leads you to victory over death. Joy is knowing God is your Father in heaven. He formed your life for his glory. He shapes your life for your good. Joy is trusting the Spirit is your helper, your knowledge and your wisdom. He’s always available to you.
          Paul often wrote of joy as a measure of your faith. You can be joyful always as you continually remember you belong to God.