Living a Joyful LifeУзорак

Be Careful of the Superficial and Elusive Pursuit of Joy “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23). There are no scientific or superficial means to creating a true and lasting joyful life—not psychedelics, not drugs, not alcohol, not sexual immoralities, nothing. All of these only leave us more empty. It’s a craving we can never fill on our own. We sometimes anaesthetize ourselves with these things to numb the pain of the vacuum we fill inside, but only God can fill that vacuum, and only God can completely heal and restore a broken heart. True joy is the fruit of the Spirit, not a by-product of chemical-induced substances. When the Spirit of God dwells in us, joy becomes our inherent experience. It is something we may not be able to explain or articulate. Our success and progress may bring temporary happiness and excitement, but they are always short-lived. True joy is not bound to outcomes or probabilities; it is one of the manifestations of the Spirit of God that lives in us. A joyful life is not necessarily a perfect life; no, we will always have moments of disappointment and sadness, and we may sometimes get overwhelmed by the burden of life responsibilities and unplanned circumstances, but remember what the Bible says, "Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5). You have to be deliberate in keeping and protecting your joy. Someone cut you off in traffic; stay joyful. Don't lose it. If someone says something negative about you, leave them alone. God is your vindicator. Stay joyful. People may try to bait you into conflict and strife; don't take the bait; ignore them and keep your joy. Don't get involved in battles that are not between you and your divine destiny. Stay calm and let God fight your battles. Make peace with yourself that not everyone will be at peace with you. King Saul was not at peace with David, yet he ascended the throne. The commissioners and satraps find all means to find fault and accusation against Daniel, but in the end, who did the King promote? Daniel! Protect your joy from the naysayers. People sometimes go through life bitter, resentful, and cynical and find all means to drag you into their drama; be careful. Let the dead bury their dead. Sometimes, you have to deliberately excuse yourself from tables and rooms that no longer serve you. Protect your joy and peace of mind. Friends, I want to leave you with this, Habakkuk 3:17-18, "Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." If this devotional has blessed you in any way, please do share your feedback. I would love to hear from you. My email is info@danielkcole.com