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Joy is one of those things we all long for, but without practical tools and real application, it can feel elusive. I recently shared three truths about joy based on Galatians 5:22 in A Settled Disposition. We don’t try to manufacture joy through the right techniques; rather, we learn to cultivate what the Spirit is already growing in us. “Cultivate” suggests action on our part; intentionality. I think there are (at least) five things we need to cultivate joy in our lives.
- Plan / Map – Just like any road trip, this journey of life requires a plan and a map. Our map? God’s Word—trustworthy and true. Our plan? Abiding in Him and surrendering to His purposes. When we trust the One who made the map, joy becomes the steady undercurrent of our lives, bringing peace to our hearts even when the road gets rough.
- Perspective – King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote in Proverbs 23:7, “As a person thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we think and believe about God, ourselves, others, and our problems deeply shapes who we are and directly affects the depth of the joy we will experience in this life. Having the right perspective begins with our thought life. We need to train ourselves to think about “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8).
Similarly, we need to train ourselves to choose a redemptive perspective. A redemptive perspective means looking for evidence of God’s grace and seeking glimpses of redemption in any tragedy. Psalm 77:10 is instructive: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD, I will remember the words of the LORD. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Our God is the God of redemptive wonders! - Playfulness -There’s a reason the Bible says, “a joyful heart is good medicine”(Proverbs 17:22) because laughter does something chemistry can’t quite explain:
-Laughter loosens the grip of fear.
-Laughter helps us put our worries in perspective.
-Laughter reminds our bodies that we are still capable of lightness in heavy times.
The kind of playfulness we need to cultivate is the kind that knows play and laughter aren’t frivolous. Laughter doesn’t deny the hard; it refuses to let the hard have the final word! - Praise – The Bible links joy with thanksgiving and praise in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is experienced inwardly. Thanksgiving and praise are usually expressed outwardly. The overflow of inward gratitude is outward thanksgiving and praise. If you are struggling with a joy-deficit, there may be a direct and immediate correlation with a praise-deficit. Start by singing or listening to songs and hymns. Read aloud to the Lord Psalm 103 or Psalm 145.
- Promises of God – God has made promises that He has already kept, and He has made promises that He is yet going to keep. Every one of God’s promises, in Jesus, is ‘yes’. Every single promise God has made will find its fulfillment and affirmation (yes!) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the guarantor of every promise.
One of my favorite promises of God, the one that steadies my soul more often than anything else, is in 1 Peter 5:10: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Sitting in the midst of our sorrowing world, as Tim Keller said, I sip regularly on this promise, the promise of coming joy.
These five things are useful tools for our edification and God’s glory as we seek to cultivate the joy that God’s Spirit is growing in us. I hope you’ll carry these practical helps with you and apply them throughout your days to live joyfully, on purpose.