Six steps to a joy filled life - Parts 2

  Hi there, and welcome to PART 2 to living a joy filled life. ( original done as a video )

 In the first part we covered Giving thanks, Rejoicing and praising the Lord, and forgiving.
 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 possible and spiritual and there is really not  any other way that we would want to live. 
 Part 2 to six steps to living a joy filled life. ( steps 4 -6 )
4. Dying to self     - no longer I that liveth
 protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  1 Corinthians 15:31
Everyday we have to choose I'm going to die to flesh and live more for God, a little less of me and whole to more of Him.
No longer is that liveth.  Galatians 2:20
Denying the flesh, not living for self. :laying down our will for His. Full surrender. Thy kingdom, they will be done. Matthew 6:10
Seeking His will and His way in our lives.
 How do we die to self when we are still very much living?
 We have to lay down our will, our wants, our way, our will, and seek His. And we got to what He wants for us, His will, His desires for us. And in scripture we can read how he wants us to live and the plans and desires he has for us, and we have to really lay down our will and surrender completely to HIm.  Completely every day surrender to Him, saying not my will but yours be done, and die to the flesh. I know that’s easier said than done, right? But its something we have to do everyday and with Gods help we can do it.
   I can do all things through christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 It’s something we have to do every day and seek his desires for your life. A little more of HIm and a little less of you. And just be very selfless in God and be kingdom focused.
A little less of me today and a whole more of Him, and in doing so it will keep us joyful.
“ All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.”

5. Seek first the kingdom of God
Matthew 6:33 - 34
Not self focused. God focused. Others focused.
Seek first the things of God. Things that please and honor God.
That's very similar to dying to self. Just seeking first the kingdom and the things of God, seeking first his will and his ways, and helps us to be selfless. 
And we take the take the focus off us and put all our fucus on Him, and the more we do that the less we will think about us, and the things we want, or our will, or our feelings. 
   Seek ye first the kingdom of God.
Being focused on Him and on the things that please him, and thats what makes us more joyful. We are to seek to please HIm in all things, and so often we do things or watch movies that are not pleasing to him, and not really give much though to weather it’s pleasing to Him or not. We are more concerned if it will hurt us or effect us instead of if it is honoering or pleasing to Him. And we say things like it’s not evil, or it’s not hurting us, I enjoy it. We only think how it will effect us, nad yet it was never about us, it’s about Him and weather is pleasing or honoring to Him, and what hurts God does hurt us. 
Prove what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God. Is this pleasing to God is this acceptable to God and not about .  And we need to lay down what we want or we think is good, and see what He thinks is good, what His word say about it. And we can easily find that out in scripture. Philippians 4:6-8

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
      8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
 He will keep our hearts and minds when we keep focused on Him, and make our request known unto him with thanksgiving in our hearts. And keep us in peace that we can even wrap our minds around.
  Veres 8 is how we know what is pleasing to God, so we can say it’s ok, i don’t mind, but it wasnt about us but about Him. He gave us a perfect guideline about what to watch or read or listen too ect… This is my go to verse that i go to rate a movie, book, song, etc… I often say either memorize this veres or tape it to your laptop or tv screen. Tape it somewhere handy and so you can think is it lovely, is it pure, is it of good report, is it true, etc…. If not out it goes. Because we want to please the Lord in all things and all areas of our lives, so we have to keep laying down what we think is good and what we want., or what we think, but what he thinks, because its all about him. It’s just wonderful when we lay ourselves down completly and choose His way and His will and we will be truly happy. Thats how we can truly live a joyfilled life.

6.  Trust - Trusting God in all things and every situation 
Trust and rest in God knowing he is in control which brings peace of mind.

Psalm 27:14 ; Psalms 31:24; Isaiah 26:34; Psalm 29:11; Psalms 13:5-6; Psalms 147:11
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Proverbs 3:5-6

Isaiah 26:3-4New King James Version 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,Because he trusts in You.4 Trust in the Lord forever,For in Yah, the Lord, is [a]everlasting strength. You want to be in perfect peace, keep your minds on Jesus. Don’t keep our mind or our focus on the news, on your troubles, problems, and the things around you.  That’s whats going to keep us down and get us worried about things when we listen to the news, and all the crazy stuff  going on. God will keep in perfect peace those who keep their minds on HIm.
But its a choice we have to make and keep on making.
The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him in those that hope in his mercy. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
The LORD taketh pleasure in those that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalms 147: 10- 11
  Proverbs 3: 5-6  5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 We don’t want to rely on our own way or our own thinking, but on God’s. OUr ways are not HIs ways and our thoughts not His thoughts, so we can see we don’t always think the way He does, so not everything we think is good, or right to do isn’t necessarily His way.  so we got to be purposeful about desiring that. 
The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Corinthians:3:19
Isaiah 55: 7-8  7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Keeping your mind focused on God He will keep you in perfect peace, not with your mind on the news and the things happening around you. Not on your disappointments, not on your failures, not on others faults. 
When we are completely trusting in God, we will be at perfect peace.
 We will stay joyful. Being in complete surrender and giving him full control of our lives.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalms 31:24 

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. Psalms 27:4
 So that’s our desire to dwell in the house of the Lord. 


 Psalms 13: 5-6 5But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
  That’s about rejoicing In God. So that’s like i mention in the last one about always thanking and praising the Lord because there is always something to thank and praise Him for. Like when i get up in the morning,’I'm like thank you lord thank you Lord. Nad just always pressing him for his goodness and faithfulness, and for who He is. Just rejoicing in GOd for all that He has done for us. There is so much, always something to praise Him about and parise Him for.
Psalms 29:11 11The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
So we will keep in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him.
 
 
 
Conclude:
In every state I’m i've learned to be content.
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.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatever 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
These things are not something you just do once, but something you do on a daily basis. A choice you make every day. To give thanks in all things in everything and every situation. Rejoice, forgive, seek first the kingdom of God, trust God, perfect trust. We have to let go. Its hard because we want to hold on, and we want to do things our way and in our time. Yes, but we are worried about this or we don’t know about that. We think He can’t possibly be in control of that or do that for us. God can’t take care of that.  We got to let God and let Him be in control. We  got to be in control and now we feel better, but we don’t want to be in control because we just take care of things like He does, we don’t know what's best. So we have to let go and let Him have control over every area of our lives. Then we can rest and be joyful because we know that everything will be ok, because He got it and is in perfect control and there are no accidents with God. Nothing takes Him by surprise.
 The full surrender of our lives to Him, and completely trusting,  with a perfect trust, brings peace, comfort, and joy. You then can have a joyful heart and joy filled life regardless of what life brings your way.
  There is no safe place to be. No stronger arms. He is our refuge, strong tower, our strength, our place of quite and peace, regardless of what is going on in our lives.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteous. 
That your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
Mark 4:7
( We got to focus on Godly concerns and not worldly concerns. Colossians 3:1-2, 1. Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  
 ( For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26 )
Nehemiah 8:10  Joy of the Lord is your strength
Proverbs 17:22 Merry heart doeth good like medicine