Six Sources of Joy

Joy . . . what a positive word! It’s impossible to frown or be grumpy if you are joyful. You’re more likely to be smiling and looking around with a sparkle in your eye.

One of my favorite verses is Nehemiah 8:10 (BSB). I have encouraged myself time and again by quoting “. . . the joy of the LORD is your strength.” I’m hanging on to that because it works.

But I’ve embarked on a study of joy and been challenged to think deeper. As I pursue individual verses, I find myself interested in their setting.

Nehemiah 8:10 is an example. Read chapter eight and you’ll learn that the people were anxious to hear God’s word read aloud. They also wanted it explained so they could understand it. But they began to weep when they realized how far they were from obedience to God’s word.

Then came a day holy unto the LORD. Ezra gave the people special instructions: (1) Do not grieve, but (2) celebrate together with rich food and sweet drinks, and (3) share with people who are not prepared. Did you catch that simple concept? Joy is to be shared.

The people rejoiced that they now understood what had been read. The next day they gathered around Ezra to hear more of the word of the LORD.

How deep is your desire to know God’s Word? Hopefully, you’re not satisfied with Sunday sermons, or a weekly small group study. These are good, but there are seven days in the week. Jesus said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, BSB). I’m quite regular with my daily meals and I’m trying to pursue daily Scriptures, too.

This week, I discovered six sources of joy: (1) Cheerful giving (to God and others), (2) God’s provision, (3) Obedience to God’s Word, (4) Praising God, (5) Thankfulness, and (6) Worship.

When you're short on joy, think about this list. Perhaps joy is not only a feeling; it's also a way of life.

What's New?

That’s an interesting question. I think the answer is “not much.” I’m basing that on words by wise King Solomon in his Book of Ecclesiastes, which is dated close to his death in 931 B.C.

Have you ever heard “There’s nothing new under the sun?” Did you know that was written by Solomon? I find Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 quite interesting (BSB):

What has been will be again,

And what has been done will be done again;

There is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a case where one can say,

“Look, this is new?”

It has already existed in the ages before us.

Mankind has certainly created, or invented, some marvelous things since Solomon’s time. But when you think of people and their basic human characteristics, not much has changed.

That’s why, to me, the Ten Commandments make so much sense. Can you believe living out only ten good things can create a desirable society? Review the ten for yourself in Exodus 20.

It doesn’t take much Bible reading to discover man’s historic tendency toward evil. The flood in Noah’s day came about for that very reason (Genesis 6:5-7). And, according to Matthew 15:18-19, mankind hadn’t changed much in Jesus’ time.

But this week I came across a scripture that could have been written for today’s news. I Peter 3:14 had a cross-reference to Isaiah 8:12 (BSB): Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

There’s nothing new in the fact that people have always conspired secretly, creating plans and schemes that suit their agenda. But today we hear a lot of conspiracy theories. That puts a different twist on it because theories are things yet to be proved.

I’ve heard Joyce Meyer say, “FEAR is false evidence appearing real.” She didn’t know who coined the phrase and neither do I, but it makes sense. And we do have a choice: will we walk by fear or faith?

I want to live by faith. That’s why I try to read God’s word daily. Make your choice today . . . then live by it.

Illustration: Detective, Searching Man by GraphicMama-Team on Pixabay.

4 Ways to be Happy

Yes, I know there are more than four ways to be happy. But my inspirational blogs are short, so I’m sharing four that caught my attention today.

The first way to be happy is to rejoice. That sounds simple enough. It’s easy to be joyful when we’re happy. But wait . . . the Apostle Paul named something specific in which to rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (BSB): “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

He repeated it for emphasis, so if we’re to rejoice in the Lord, let’s bring Jesus into the picture.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). That’s a great reason to rejoice!

The second way to be happy is not to worry. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6). Prayers can be short or long. Just speak to God from your heart.

The third way is to be choosy about your thoughts. When I was fighting cancer, I became quite aware that I was not able to think positively and negatively at the same time. I pursued Proverbs 17:22, a joyful heart as good medicine, and focused on positive, true, honorable, and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8). This included books, movies, and conversations.

The fourth way to happiness is to practice doing the right thing. Paul encouraged the Philippian Christians to put into practice both his teachings and his life example (Philippians 4:9).

He was even more specific in his letter to the Corinthians: You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). That’s a clear word for today, as well. I’m thankful for the example of sincere pastors, teachers, and mentors, but I must also know and follow God’s teachings for myself.

You can’t do four things at once. Just pick something and get started on it this week:

 Rejoice in the Lord

Pray instead of worrying

Be choosy about your thoughts

 Practice doing the right thing 

BSB: Berean Standard Bible, see Sources

Emoji from Pixabay

An Easy Read

Give me a book that is easy to read, please. By that I mean a nice size print and lines with a little space between. I was excited to receive a book like this from a friend. The best book in the world.

I am now happily reading my *Berean Standard Bible (BSB). It’s not only a nice hard-cover edition, but the pages turn easily and don’t stick together.

If you’re wondering about this new translation, let me share a line from their Preface: Based on the best available manuscripts and sources, each word is connected back to the Greek and Hebrew text to produce a transparent text that can be studied for its root meanings.  If interested, you’ll find further helpful resources on their website: www.Berean.Bible

My favorite Psalm has always been “Old One Hundred.” The BSB layout made it easy to underline three basic reminders of how to serve the LORD: (1) Make a joyful noise to Him, (2) serve Him with gladness, and (3) come into His presence with joyful songs.

According to verse 3, The LORD is not only the God who made us but also the One who knows how to take care of us: We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. David details The Good Shepherd’s care in his Twenty-Third Psalm.

Psalm 100 says to enter into God’s Presence, but how? It’s not hard, but it is personal. First, we enter His gates with thanksgiving. Your list will differ from mine.

Next, we move closer with praise, a way to also bless His name. The Psalms are a big help, and songs of praise often come to mind.

Why take time to give God thanksgiving and praise?  Verse five sums it up: 1) The LORD is good, 2) His love is forever, and 3) His faithfulness is to all generations. There are no limits and it never runs out.

I enjoy comparing translations on my Bible app (YouVersion). If you want to see Psalm 100 as an easy read in the BSB, check it out.

I have now listed *BSB in my Sources: The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB). Copyright 2022 by Bible Hub. Used by Permission, All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Photo: Read/Cozy Coffee by digitalmeta555 on Pixabay.

Some Positive Self-Talk

Only a hermit could avoid knowing our world is in an uproar right now. Where is peace to be found? Perhaps closer than you think.

This week Psalm 42 caught my attention in *The Everyday Life Bible. David was indulging in a little self-talk, and he didn’t gloss anything over. He was disturbed by the taunts of people who constantly needled him saying, “Where is your God?”

He asked God, “Have You forgotten me? My taunting enemies feel like a crushing of my bones. But I remember days past when I walked before You, leading a procession of people into Your house for worship, a time of joy. I know that you still love me and I worship you with songs in the night.”

A little self-talk can be a good thing. While acknowledging his earthly trials, David admitted that he was downcast, feeling hopeless and discouraged. Twice he asked himself, “Why are you in despair, my soul? Why have you become disquieted and restless within me?” (Psalm 42:5, 11)

The point is that he didn’t stop there; he gave himself a positive solution: “Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him.” By faith, he was not giving up; he expected God to answer. Notice an important three-letter word: “For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

David declared in verse one that he thirsted for God like a deer pants longingly for streams of water. Think about it . . . cool, refreshing, life-giving water. How deep is your desire to know God? Remember, one way to know Him is to read His word. 

Do you ever reflect on why something is bothering you? Do you take time to indulge in some uplifting self-talk? Do you praise God for the good things He has done for you in the past? Do you see solutions in His word?

There’s nothing wrong with admitting things are tough right now, YET, like David, let’s choose to put our hope in God.

The Everyday Life Bible, Amplified Version, Featuring Notes and Commentary by Joyce Meyer, Faith Words, New York, Copyright 2006

World Illustration from Pixabay.