Have you ever been around someone that is always full of joy? No matter what’s going on in their life, they're upbeat & positive. Well they must know the secrets to living a joy filled life.
It’s not that I have this all figured out and am always living this joy filled life, but I know it's possible and it's spiritual. It’s not that we will always be walking on sunshine, but when we live out the 6 secrets of living a joy filled life then we can stay above the waters when the clouds do come, which they will. And when we have learned to be content in whatever state we are in. How can you live a joy-filled life when things are not always going smoothly? If you're faced with great disappointments in life, or have gone through tragedies and your life has been changed forever? Or when things are not going your way, when things don't happen the way you wanted, when you wanted and how you wanted? When life isn't going the way you thought it would. This is especially vital for us mothers since we are the heart or center of the home. As the saying goes, “If momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy.” Or my spin on it, “If you have a stinking attitude the whole house will smell.” How we are feeling, and the attitudes we express, and how we go about our days really affect the whole household. And more often than not our children will pick up on it and portray the same thing. Just as there is always things to be thankful for if we would just look, we also will always have things we could complain about too, but we all know regardless of how much we grip, wine, complain, fret, or worry over something it won’t change anything, so this is an area we really have to be purposeful about. In part one I cover the first 3 steps that I put together on living a joy-filled life. Learning to give thanks in all things, rejoicing constantly, and continuously forgiving. A full and abundant life is possible in Christ, and is the life He intended for us, when we heed his words, and the things He instructed us to do. He gave us these commands, instructions, and guidelines for our good. There is a reason. It wasn’t withhold any good thing from us, but that we would have a more abundant and fuller and richer life in him. And I don't mean the riches the world can give, that is so temporary and fleeting. Jesus said, “A thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). People often talk about God doing “exceeding abundantly, beyond all we can ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). In part 2 I cover the last 3 of the six steps to living a joy filled life: Dying to self, Seeking first the Kingdom of God, and Trusting God.
This veres doesn’t just say to be thankful when things are going smoothly, it says to be thankful in everything. No matter what happens in life.Thankful in difficulties, in disappointments, in tragedies, on good days, on bad bad days. Sick days, well days. We can always find things to be thankful for. As the saying goes there is a silver lining to every cloud. There is always a bright side to every negative thing. But we have to be more diligent and very purposeful about finding it. We can always find something to be thankful for even in a major tragedy, and when we do it lifts the spirits, allows you to smile even with tears in your eyes, and heals the heart bit by bit. Like when we lost our son we found things to be thankful for, lifting our spirits. We were thankful that he died very quickly, with no suffering, that he didn’t have any of the other little ones with him, thankful for our new baby who was really healing to my heart, thankful for my other children. And be thankful for the very simple everyday things in life, the ones we often take for granted, like the gift of a new day or life it’s self. Since we lost our son I see life in a new light, each new day as a gift from God, and life nothing short of a miracle. When I wake each morning I thank him for the new day. And I thank Him for life. I’m awake, I’m alive, thank you God!! We are still here, we are alive and breathing! There is still time and hope for our plans and our dreams, and what God wants to do in us, and through us for others, and for us. There is so much to be thankful for all the time. In the same way though there are always things we could complain about too, but we all know regardless of how much we grip, wine, or fret over something it won’t change, so this is an area we really have to be purposeful about. And when we are always grateful and thankful our countenance is joyful and others can see that joy in you and they can wonder, “Wow, why is she happy ? She has gone through all this and she is still smiling.” Only God. And staying grateful and thankful and always looking for things to be thankful for. Everyday I look for something new. Yes, you will have to be purposeful about it. And you're doing it with a purpose in mind. I encourage you to do that everyday and you will see what it will do for your heart and spirit. 2.Rejoicing - rejoice evermore Rejoicing and finding things to praise the Lord for. Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Praise the Lord. Rejoicing is similar to being thankful. Rejoicing in every situation. Focus on the blessings. Focus on what we do have and not what we don’t. Rejoicing in the Lord for who he is. That He is our great and mighty Lord, our refuge, our strength,our protector, our redeemer. OUr strong tower. Our help in times of trouble. Our hope, peace, comfort. He is always there with us and for us. And when negative thoughts come, speak life over them and truth over them in Jesus. Shoot all negative thoughts down with praise and rejoicing to the Lord. Yes, I may be worried about this, but my God is good, He is on the throne and in control. Yes, but I'm serving a great God, and He has said he would never leave me nor forsake me. Yes, this may have happened, but I’m in God and He has me, yes this is bothering me, but God loves me, I am forgiven, I’m chosen, I’m His daughter. Just thank them, and rejoice in his goodness and greatness, and what He has done for us, and through us. There are so many things to rejoice and thank him for, and just do it throughout the day. And Rejoice in the things we usually take for granted, Like rejoicing in HIm for your marriage, your children, your good health, a roof over our heads, a dependable vehicle, a warm house, etc… Be mindful throughout the day to do that. The more we do that the more we will find to rejoice about. And that lifts us up and puts joy in our steps. Rejoicing that He loves us, cares for us, calls us by name. Psalm 146:5 Happy is the man who has God as his help and his hope is in the Lord. That is what keeps us joyful! Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.KJV Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. NIV 1 Peter 4:13-17 Rejoice in tribulation and in sufferings for Christ sake. Mathew 5:12 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philpiallans 4:8 3. Forgiving -Matthew 6 14-15 - love and charity Forgiving is so powerful and healing. Having a forgiving spirit and forgiving attitude. Matthew 6:14-15New King James Version 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Always forgiving. We will be hurt, and not like in tragedies, but by our spouses, by other family, or just things in life. Sure this may be easier said than done, but we can do that in Christ, He gives us the ability to forgive. and we just have to keep forgiving, and keep forgiving, it’s an ongoing thing as long as we are living. We have to seek to do that and be very purposeful about it, and we can. And dying to self, because it’s really not us living anymore, but Christ living in us. And if we can truly live like that, die to ourselves and not be so consumed on ourselves and our little feelings, and be more concerned about and looking out for others, and not have these little pity parties and wow me attitude, then we can be forgiving, because we want to be joyful. Not forgiving is just being down in spirit and low. But when we can forgive we can just get on with our lives and these things won’t keep bothering us anymore. Like sometimes my husband says something or does something that hurts me or disappointed me and I've let that get me down. And I know he needs to tell me he is sorry and until he tells me sorry I will be upset at him. So finally I'm tired of being upset at him and I go to him and say I'm tired of being upset. Let's get this over with I don’t want to be mad at you anymore. So when i mention that to him, he is usually a little quicker to tell me he is sorry that he would have, and then i'm like great, now we are good again. Let's be happy, let's not be upset and that helps us joyfull each day. Forgiving is so powerful and healing and life giving, but we have to be intentional about it, and as the other things we have to continually be forging throughout our days everyday. Not worrying about the future. Philippians 4:5-7 So today we covered being thankful, rejoicing, and forgiving. And just got to keep doing things everyday, it's a choice we have to make. The choice we have to make is to be thankful, rejoice in the Lord to praise the Lord no matter what happens, be grateful, in whatever situation we are in, and forgiving. And we know that when we forgive others, God forgives us because we know we do plenty _ everyday, we are not perfect, we keep making mistakes. If we want to be forgoing, we have to be forgiven. And that keeps us joyful and keeps us going.
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Meet Mae
I am a wife to my wonderful husband, Paul, of over 25 years. Mommy to 10 blessings, ages 24 to 2 years. Our 2nd oldest son, at age 14, has gone on to be with the Lord on April 19th, 2017. I share about that new road we are on here on my blog. Categories
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![]() My first 7 years of blogging.
Great inspirational reading! "I believe a greater intimacy with God leads us to an inner peace, unquenchable joy, & an ever-lasting hope regardless of what we go through in life." Mae Archives
June 2024
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