O/T: Living a Joyful Life?

[MommyInTraining]

I have issues, as many do. But, how do you get past them and live a joyful and abundant life?

How do you get to the point that you face the day with a smile and actually look forward to waking up the next day?

I would love to hear from those who have achieved this and what you did to get there.

[water2wine]

I think Carrie will allow this since it relates to Happy moms hsing.

I know the answer to this. I think it is a choice. You need to chose to believe scripture and be in it daily trusting that God always has your best in mind no matter what life looks like. It is not circumstantial, it is positional...your position to Christ. Nothing can fill your cup but Him, every human will let you down in some shape or form. He is the only one that can bring joy. So drinking the Word daily, praying scripture (God will honor that) and crying out to Him to meet your needs. Some people tend to it more naturally than others but I think none-the-less it is always a choice to see the best knowing God has His hand in it. Listen to scripture online (Bible Gateway is what I do), surround yourself with praise music, read the Word and pray to him daily to help you see joy and give contentment. I thought Julie's comment on joy was very true. I know from personal experience it is not circumstantial.

Phil 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication(K) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And(L) the peace of God,(M) which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Phil 4:11-13
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Two books if you think Beth Moore is OK for teaching she has two great books that I have personally read in this area... Get Out of the Pit and Praying Scripture. Have read and used them both. I think they are excellent. Still pray the scripture as part of my daily routine and the areas are always changing. I found these books to be a great help for targeting things that block joy. And for learning how to apply scripture to your daily living.

Hope something here helps! Not saying I have achieved joy at all times, but I have learned to choose Joy in Him no matter what life brings I know for me it is a choice.

[Busymomma1]

Amen to the above post! Stand on the promise that God wants you to live abundantly!
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." ( John 10:10). This is God's will for your life and my life. I agree with checking out Praying God's Word (Beth Moore). You KNOW you are praying God's will when you pray His word. Trust the Lord to follow through on His promises shown in His word. This is a pep talk for myself, as well!

Be blessed!

[MommyInTraining]

W2W and Tricia,

Thanks so much for the encouragement and the inspiring words.

I agree it is a choice we make. I know a lot of my struggles come from be raised in an ungodly home and breaking those chains can seem so hard at times.

[kissesmomof4]

I have to agree that having joy is often a choice you make. I have been through a lot of unpleasant things in my life and some people would have just thrown in the towel and decided to be miserable. While I am not perfect and I have bad days I *try* to keep joy in my heart and smile through the bad times knowing that the Lord is in control and in the end he has a plan for my life.

[Happy2bMommyof3]

Wow everyone, what great advice!

I think personally it is realizing that life is not fair...as I tell my children. I am thankful that life is not fair. We all get far more than what we deserve. We are shown lovingkindness and Mercy from our Father because of His goodness...nothing that we have done. If I got what I deserved I would get death and Hell.

Also, I think it depends on what you call "abundant". In Scripture, Jesus told his followers they would have life abundantly. He was speaking to those who would mostly die as martyrs "before their time". So what could He have meant? I have read testimonies of believers from Sudan, China, N. Korea where the persecution usually ends in death if you name the name of Christ. They have joy. Not happiness based on "happenings", but joy which comes from deeply abiding closely in the Lord. When we are obedient to Him, He fills our hearts with joy. If we set our hearts on finding the joy and the happiness outside of obedience to Christ alone, we will surely wind up empty.

Blessings,
Heather

[my3sons]

We can ALL struggle with this at times. It is tough to be joyful all of the time, but here are some things that help me:
*listen to Christian music and sing along LOUDLY
*twirl my dc around the house to the music now and then (dipping them and doing the helicopter if my back can handle it)
*read the Bible and pray each day sometime during the day (if I miss the morning, than first thing in the afternoon, and otherwise before bed)
*look for funny parts of the day to retell to my dh and my family (rather than the things that were hard)
*allow myself to have some times just for me during the week - a bubble bath with a good book, rent a funny movie and pop some popcorn, eat out with my sis, etc.
*stop myself from comparing my life to others and feeling sorry for myself thinking I come up short somehow
*when my buttons are pushed, get off the phone or computer, walk away from the conversation - come back with compassion and love - or at the very least with civility
*only read and watch things that uplift me or educate me (no more horror films, thrillers, or warped movies for me - they just bring me down)
*choose friends that focus on being positive themselves
*take a minute to look out the window and find something in God's Creation to be amazed by - a sunset, the stars, a flower - and think how amazing He is and how He made me too just for His pleasure
*know my weaknesses and joy stealers and plan ahead to try to combat them - for me, it's being prone to feel lonely, sad, and sorry for myself when my dh travels - I need to make a plan to do some fun things when he's gone - like saving some money to take the dc out to eat at a Mexican restaurant, having a picnic with them on the living room floor, getting a good book and reading it for hours at night, or watching a good old movie he wouldn't want to watch but that I still love seeing a hundredth time

I think being connected to Jesus and having Him in our hearts is truly the only way to have everlasting joy. Anything else is fleeting. The truth is, joyful people don't have better lives, they choose to live better for Him. So, this is a great topic to remind us to encourage one another, to choose to be joyful, and to live our lives fully for Him - thanks for this, Terri!

In Christ,
Julie

P.S. The book Stepping Heavenward changed the way I think about joy. I recommend it to everyone seeking to find joy through knowing the Lord in life! Carrie, my mom, and I all have read it - and we read it realizing how this lady had a truly different way of thinking about life, and that although her life wasn't perfect, she found great joy and abundance in it (over time)! And it wasn't one of those make you feel guilty books or bring you down books either. I could see myself in every immature spat, idealistic attitude, and unrealistic argument she had - but my continued goal is to see myself in the woman she came to be.

[my3sons]

Two books if you think Beth Moore is OK for teaching she has two great books that I have personally read in this area... Get Out of the Pit and Praying Scripture. Have read and used them both. I think they are excellent.

Which Beth Moore book was your favorite? My dh's going to be gone a lot coming up - planning ahead for a bubble bath book.

In Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

Which Beth Moore book was your favorite? My dh's going to be gone a lot coming up - planning ahead for a bubble bath book.

Well Get Out of The Pit is awesome. For me it was very helpful. It is sort of a study in a way but it is really about deliverance from strongholds and I am talking any kind. There are questions you can answer as you go. Here are some online videos there are three on Get Out of The Pit. http://www.lifetoday.org/site/PageServe ... =bth_media If you like these the book is great. The other one praying scripture is not a read in the bath tub book. It is a praying the Word of God fighting the enemy tool. I keep it by my bead and it is part of my evening prayer every night. It's awesome and powerful! So they are different. Get Out of the Pit is a girlfriend read in a way, entertaining, but very helpful. I am starting tonight Believing God. It looks good too!

BTW in general on the topic of joy- if you are in a rut just spending a day watching some of these videos http://www.lifetoday.org/site/PageServe ... =bth_media in general is a great way to get back to joy. You can pick by topic.

[eazbnsmom]

Wow, lots of great replies. I am going to add one more to Julie's list and that is looking at the things to be thankful for!

[my3sons]

I watched the Get Out of the Pit video segments on the link you gave me - powerful stuff. I'm getting it on Friday if Crossroads has it (I have a $10 gift certificate there). Thanks! On a funny note, my dh walked in and heard Beth Moore shouting on my computer, and he looked scared. He asked if I was listening to some scary person - no I believe he said "weirded out" person. I have no idea where he gets these expressions. No, I told him - just someone very passionate for God - she's a forceful little lady!

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

I have one more to add to Julie's great list, too. (You are the CHAMPION list-maker, Julie!! )

When I was in college I started this habit of using my running time to ONLY think of things I have to be thankful for. 4 miles worth every day can really change your outlook & attitude! Sometimes then, I'd run with friends and we'd take turns saying them out loud and made a goal to not name the same thing twice. It was definitely a refreshing habit...and the oasis of my day - then and now!! I still like to make time to take my "thankfulness run" every day. It's easy to get in when the sun's up early...but we're closely approaching the time when I can't get it in before we do family devotions in the morning. (I tried running before dawn before, and out here in the boonies there is NO light and falling on a gravel road doesn't do good things to your slicks or your knees! ) Anyway, I even rearrange our school schedule for the time when it's not light by 7 so that I can get out and run and have time to pray and list off everything that I have to be thankful for.

I know that I fall into times when I do not make it a habit of pointing out all the good things around me - whether I'm actually blessed with good circumstances or not. The spiritual blessings of our relationship with God are always there! Anyway, I know that if I'm pointing those blessings out and being thankful out loud with my kids, it really affects their attitudes too. I would much rather listen to positivity from them than complaining. And, I'm quite sure the feeling is mutual!

And, I don't think that being joyful means that you have to operate your day "Cheerleader-style". I have been blessed with good friendships with bubbly joyful people...as well as soft gentle ones. While their personalities are far different, the effect of their joyful lives, living contentedly had the same powerful effect.

I'm so thankful for all of you here. The iron sharpening iron is something I definitely need in my life. And, Julie I hear you about being tempted to feel sorry for yourself when you don't have your husband around. That is ME right now. Doing cornsilege several times...followed by harvest... After weeks/months of this I find myself getting far too snappy with Mike and the kids. So this was very timely for me.

Kathleen

[Carrie]

What wonderful lists and things to ponder! I was reminded by this thread today that joy is a choice and that the Lord desires for us to choose to be joyful no matter what our circumstances. This is something that I need to work on daily as I was raised to be a happy, cheerful person but am also quicker with my temper and my tongue than I should be. So, this is an excellent reminder to seek to be joyful in the Lord and not to let life's circumstances dictate my mood!

Blessings,
Carrie