Guarding Your Joy

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • Philippians 4

  • Psalm 100:4

SHOW NOTES:

It can be easy to allow circumstances to give us overwhelming feelings, but as a Christian, your portion is not to have your emotions be up and down. Joy is a spiritual fruit that comes from walking with God. Joy is not a feeling. Even when natural circumstances don’t align, there is a way to walk in a consistent state of steadiness–there is a way to keep the joy of the Lord! 

Remaining in joy through anxiety, worry, discouragement–all the things we battle with that try to steal our God-given strength–is possible. You just have to know how to guard your joy!

Guard your joy by…

Staying in a place of peace and joy through thinking about what you’re thinking about

How do you stay in a place of peace and joy? One way is by guarding your mind. What you focus on matters. If you’re struggling, my question is, what are you allowing your mind to wander to? Take an inventory of the thoughts you’re meditating on, purposefully positioning your mind on what is true and good. Take your thoughts captive, and think about what you’re thinking about. Don’t magnify things that aren’t working out, instead, magnify His Word, His promises, and the hope you have in Him. 

Staying in a place of constant gratitude

Position your heart in gratitude. You have to choose to look at what He is doing or what He isn’t doing. Complaining will repel God and take you out of faith, and faith is the very thing God responds to. We enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100:4-5). Joy comes from positioning yourself in a place of crazy gratitude. Change your thoughts towards gratitude and you will realize how much God is already doing.

Stop thinking about just yourself

A recipe for joy? Jesus, others, you. Whenever you’re focused on God, it’s impossible to not want to do things for others. If you’re lacking joy, ask yourself whether you’re focusing too much on yourself. Be sure you’re serving others.

Sadness and depression are not your portion, joy is! Even though your circumstances might not be ideal or you might be tempted to be ruled by your feelings, with Jesus there is a way you can live in supernatural joy that will transcend every circumstance and every feeling. When you think about what you’re thinking about, stay crazy in thanksgiving, and be intentional in serving other people, you’re sure to guard your joy!

joie miller