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An Attitude of Joy
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God. — Isaiah 61:10
My life is not full of joy every minute, but it’s true that joy is my most natural posture. I had a happy childhood, and that no doubt makes a big difference in the way I am today. In addition, I’ve trained myself to look for the bright side of things. I’m rarely around negative people, and if I am, I don’t make camp there.
Joy is not only a marvelous gift from God; it’s a command (Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice!”). Joy is also a learned behavior. If you’re generous with other people, they will be generous with you, and that alone will bring you unspeakable joy. Joy starts inside yourself. You can’t expect to get it from somebody else first.
Although I experience abundant joy in life, laugh heartily and often, and appreciate humor at every turn, my temperament poses certain challenges: when I tire, I get cranky. When things are out of order, I can be stubbornly controlling. When I find myself at the mercy of another’s plans or schedule, I can be very frustrated. In that sense, joy does not always come naturally to me . . . it’s an attitude I choose and try very hard to maintain.
— Luci Swindoll
Excerpted from Life! Celebrate It © 2006 by Luci Swindoll. Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson®. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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55 Responses to "An Attitude of Joy"
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I have gone through a very difficult trial over the past year. But I am joyful in it because I have found that I have many faithful friends and I am so much closer to God than I would have been otherwise. He truly does work all things out for our good!
“I’m rarely around negative people, and if I am, I don’t make camp there.”
Amy’s question is what I want to ask… what if God made my camp there? And I agree with Heidi’s view.
This statement: “I’m rarely around negative people, and if I am, I don’t make camp there.” bothered me. It is the negative people that need you. How are they to change and adopt a posture of joy when even famous Christians like you do not want to spend quality time with them. It is a worldly view to say that one tries to surround oneself with only positive people. I hear it all the time. Pity the poor soul that goes through a very tough time–all the Christians will shun her because they are conscious of not being around negative people. Sometimes the negative attitude can become a part of the person and though they want to shake it (when the hardest of times is over) it is very difficult, especially when you notice that people don’t want to “camp” with you.
Joy was the subject of our Sunday School lesson last week. We discussed happiness vs. joy. Happiness is an emotion based on our "feelings", and don't we women tend to be overruled by our "feelings" and joy (unspeakable joy) comes from being in a right relationship with God. He is our source of joy and it overflows from our hearts and spills forth into our lives and is perceived as happiness!!!!
Dear all,
This blog has really raised my moral today. I did not have joy these days, I am very busy everyday, and get very stressed, but I realized that the most important thing is to be always in joy whatever happens. Life might be very difficult, everything is really hard but if there is joy, eveything becomes easy!!!
Thanks and love in Christ!
Regarding not being around negative people, that sounds good on the surface, but I have another side to share about that. I have bipolar disorder. When I am on the upside of the illness, or manic phase, I am very, very positive and have loads of faith. When I crash into the depressive phase, I try to hard to be positive, but it's not possible when I'm there. When that happens, the last thing I need is for people to withdraw from me. People tend to, anyway, because of the stigma attached to my illness. I feel like a social leper. The worst place ths happens is in the church.
What helps me cope with this is being around people who are filled with joy, who are positive, and who accept me as I am. Your joy actually lifts me up when nothing else seems to be able to. It is contagious, and I go home with a little more hope that the dark night will end soon. I understand protecting yourself from negativity, but please consider that you may be someone's bright light in the darkness. Never underestimate the power of your joy, and what it can do in the lives of others.
I find joy in the wonder on my children's faces on Christmas morning, and in the way they get their stories mixed up when they try to tell the Christmas story. My 4-year-old explains it like this – God sent Jesus to be born. Then some bad guys who didn't like Jesus nailed him on the cross, and Jesus stayed there 40 years. Then some people who didn't want him on the cross came and nailed him down, and took him to a grave where there were angels. The angels said, "It's okay, he's not here." And that 's the end of that story.
Sometimes I think my children are closer to God and understand him in a way we've forgotten how. Their insight also brings me joy.
Today I found Joy in the fact that a prayer was answered for a special friend that I work with. Each day there is a new joy in my life. It's typically waking up and knowing that God has blessed me with another wonderful day with my family. The sound of my son's voice waking me up is a wonderful feeling for me. Christmas reminds us of the importance of Joy in our lives.
As I was looking out my kitchen window this last weekend I could see the storms and freezes had destroyed all my plants except for my roses. The roses were still buds showing me through the storms they were determined to produce, grow, and show new life. Every year in the fall and winter my plants go through these storms, and near Christmas my roses still show new life. Just like Christmas a new beginning with the birth of Jesus. Then I smile and thank God for Jesus and the new growth in my life. My prayer is I will continue to produce good fruit, flowers, not just in my pretty backyard but in life for Jesus. May God Bless You
Debra Crumb
i truely was struggling with that, so i really needy to hear your message that GOD put for you to share with us thank-you
In this past year the Lord has blessed me with such Joy and such a sense of humor it has been so unexpected. I think about so many blessings the Lord has given me that I can't help but to rejoice in Him. In the midst of hardship and loneliness He has put such a Joy in me. I grew up with such a negative , pessimistic attitude that now the Lord has replaced it with His Joy and Peace, He really has suprised me and for the first time in 23 years I'm enjoying life. Divorced after a 30 year marriage and raising a son on my own my Lord and I are having fun.
Joy is knowing and fully understanding that Jesus not only came and died for me, but that he CAME, disconnected himself from God the Father and the Holy Spirit, and he CAME for us!!!! Can you imagine how it felt to be separated from parts of yourself. I don't think we can so when Jesus came he gave up in the Coming too!!! Hallelujah!
Luci,
I married a man who grew up in a very negative household. I had a very positive upbringing, but after 20+ years of marriage, I find that his negative outlook has rubbed off to the point that I am a very unhappy person. This, along with a few other recent messages from God, has allowed me to recognize this and start turning my life back to a happy, joyous outlook. God has used you in a marvelous way to bless others. Thank you. I know this will help make my home a more joyous place.
The person who helped me understand the significance of choosing joy the most was Barbara Johnson, who has gone to be with the Lord. I have a videotape of her and have read some of her books. She lost 2 sons tragically, her husband had a near death illness and recovered and later passed away. She had a son who was estranged from the family for several years. Barbara had a brain tumor and STILL expressed joy. I share her story with other women all the time. I believe in the midst of a storm, God sends joy. In fact, he never stops sending it. Sometimes we're so focused on looking at the storm with tunnel vision, that we missed the splashes of joy he's sending all around us. To the woman who has suffered the death of her daughter and other recent deaths, I encourage you to look for the joy God is still sending in your life. It is there. You have to force yourself to see and receive it.
Thank you so much for your words of Joy! My childhood was not the best, but my children, family (church fmly included), & friends are what bring me the most JOY at this time of year. It is a constant reminder of how much God loves me to see my children. He has brought me laughter, tears, love, heartache all bundled up into 3 little packages! To see them grow, experience, and learn all the while having the foundation of Christ to grow from is sooooo marvelous!
Well not only did lose my daughter. I lost my sister in 2007 and my best friend in November 2006……
I wasn't raised in a household, family full of joy. I have also provided a lot of ups and downs for my own 5 children due to a crazy relationship with my ex husband over the years. Now at the age of 40, I am desparately seeking joy in my life. It requires a lot of soul searching, healing, letting go of certain people and situations, and rediscovering who I am. Not an easy process, but well worth it I am told. What does bring me joy without question, my children and reaching out to others, helping them, providing support in times of need, providing an ear to listen, a hug when required and just being a friend…
The Lord has been so good to us. He has blessed us by working through others and their generosity to provide for us while I have been unable to work. But most of all I am more appreciative for what I have. This time in our lives have brought me, my husband and our two wonderful teenage sons so much closer. I am finding that I am enjoying them so much more and I am cherishing the time I have with them. That time is so fleeting. My husband and I have been up front and honest about everthing everyone has been doing for us and how the Lord has placed it upon their hearts and they are heeding what He has asked them to do. We have been honest with them about our personal struggles during these crazy times these last few months and how the Lord has used these struggles to teach us about faith. I am praying that the choice we made to "Rejoice" during some of our darkest times will be an example to our sons long after we are here to remind them that the Lord uses all things according to His purpose
There were so many that I knew that were still worse off than me and I chose to pray for those people. I chose to pray for whoever walked through my door. I chose to be thankful that so many were willing to help and I had to swallow my pride and allow others to be a blessing to us because in the end they were also being blessed. I rejoiced that I had a wonderful, faithful husband who sat by my side the whole time and "hovered"(aaarrrgh)and made sure I was properly taken care of. After 4 weeks of IV therapy I was able to have my PICC line removed and I am on the mend.next comment
During my time in the hospital, I joked that the Lord was teaching me about patience, pride and VANITY(no makeup for 3 weeks). There was a lot of waiting. Sitting still is not something I am known for. I couldn't see very well so there was no reading or watching TV and it was dark so I had a lot of time to just sit and listen to the Lord. read next comment sorry
Please explain Joy after losing your 20 year old daughter to a car accident? Not only was she a daughter, but MY best friend. I have another daughter….i truly love…but she isn't one to be close. I lost my sister in 2007 at a young age and now my daughter. Explain Joy!
I lost my little sister in 1982 to a hit & run driver. My bitterness drove a wedge between me & the Lord that lasted for years. It wasn't until my mother became elderly & blind that I came back to God & that's because I finally saw that I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength. Today, my son is in a war & sometimes I am so afraid that I will loose him too. But today I also have a personal relationship with God. No one can say or do anything to ease your pain & I am so very sorry for your loss. I know it shakes your faith & makes you question everything you've believed in your entire life. Please know that when we cry, Jesus crys with us. We are not alone. God bless you.
I haven't lost a child, heaven forbid. That is not the order of how it should be. My heart breaks for you. I have a daughter and can't imagine life without her. I lost my husband last summer, June 2008, of 34 years. He was my best friend. I miss him everyday, but I am also grateful that God brought him into my life and gave me those precious 34 years. We never get over missing our loved one. My prayer for you is that you and the daughter that still lives will become closer and be able to share with one another the memories you have of your daughter that died.
Listen to Stephen Curtis Chapman's latest album. He lost his daughter in a tragic accident when she was killed by a car right in his driveway. He has chosen to model joy in the midst of the greatest grief one can feel. Joy is not the absence of sorry, but the presence of God – I read that right after I lost my dad many years ago, and it carried me through years later when I lost my husband at 48. I promise you, He is good, and He is there. I know this is small comfort right now, but please reach out to Him.
Now is not your time for joy. Now is your time of tears.
Losing a sister, recently myself and yesterday hearing the Dr report on my husbands diagnosis is also my time for tears. He does care about our broken heart and weeps with us. Many say, "Joy always", that is not what the scriptures teach us. A time to rejoice and a time to weep. It hurts bad.
Actually, scripture DOES call us to “rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (this is Philippians 4:4, the verse that Luci, and others refer to in this feed)…Joy and happiness, however, are not synonymous….We can be joyful through intense grief–this does not diminish the grief, or erase the pain that we are experiencing. It does mean, though, that we can chose to look to God through our agony–that we do not lose faith, or hope for a future (Jer. 29:11-13), or (as we all have the human tendency to do), we can allow ourselves to turn inward, and bathe in despair and hopelessness. I too, have struggled with these things (even through my Walk with God!)through hard times in the past, but I now actively choose Christ during these hard times. My heart goes out to you. In His Grip, Seeker o’ Joy
When I lost my 15 year old son, joy was the furthest thing from my mind. Survival, in fact, was not on my mind. I had no idea that anyone could hurt so badly and live, so I spent months just patiently waiting to die. I was so angry at God. It took me a couple of years to even want a relationship with God again. But now, 13 years later, I am so glad that I can rest in the arms of my God and live a joy-filled life. That core of sadness will always be there, and pop out at the most inconvenient times, but please know that you can still have a good life and yes, joy. Your memories of your sweet daughter will make you smile through your tears one day. But not today. Right now your job is to grieve your precious daughter and the healing will come in time.
It's amazing to me how God picks a topic and then keeps bringing that topic to my attention time after time. Our pastor spoke yesterday on (you guessed it) choosing joy. It is definitely a choice. I mentioned to him after church that pretty much everything we do involves choice. I can relate to Joan from Atlanta, too. When I was going through a divorce, I read that "Divorce can make you better or bitter." I chose better.
The Lord sent the most wonderful doctor who was able to treat me aggressively. During my hospital stay, my husband and I made a conscious choice that we would "rejoice" during this very scary trial. We wanted whoever came through our hospital room door to see that we had the peace of the Lord and they would have no doubt that our peace came from the Lord only!! We wanted to use that time to witness to others what a blessing it is to know that no matter what, even when you don't have time on your side and you are not sure how much longer you will be here, that because of Salvation through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you have peace knowing that you will live eternity in a much better place. The Lord sent so many wonderful people into our lives during these last few months. Both of our children were very well taken care of. My mom helped my youngest recover and our dear friends took care of our oldest(took such great care of him we thought he was going to change his name and become one of them:).
Over the last few months the Lord has definitely shown me that Rejoicing is definitely a choice and that we are NEVER alone.In October my oldest son was hospitalized for H1N1. Very Scary. Then I suffered with tonisillitis for 4weeks then my youngest was put in the hospital for an appendectomy for five days then the day he was discharged I was hospitalized the next day for 7 days. I was diagnosed with a MRSA staph infection that they were afraid was spreading to my brain but had only burrowed into my sinus cavity(still not good but could have been worse). read next comment.
Thank you Luci! It is so great this morning to read your words and be reminded that JOY is not something others give us or that floats in occasionally. It is an attitude. When things get difficult ,like lately, it is more of a challenge to choose joy. My mom is recovering from 3 ortho surgeries in 2 months–she is 85. My brother and family have had many challenges : job loss, recovering marriage, chem dep in their son. Our son going off to college and us not sure if all his choices are positive. Thank you again for your words.
I find great Joy in my grandchildren. They bring Joy to my life. It is Joyful to look at the expressions on their little faces, the precious things they say to me and how they give love unconditionally, the feeling I get when I hear one of them say the blessing over a meal or listen to their prayers at bedtime….oh, what JOY!
Thanks Luci! Now I know why you have always been my favorite! My Joy is found in family, especially my son! It's wonderful to come home after a long day and just sit and play with him. He is so joyful and it always rubs off on me!
Sometimes when depression closes in, Joy is hard to find. But when a good friend or a pastor prays a prayer of intercession for you, I find the Peace and Joy of the Lord returning. It is so important to know that God is right there all the time waiting to shower Joy, Peace and Love. You just need to ask.
Joy is hard to keep up when your constantly surrounded by the negative media and negative family and friends,but I choose to try and be an ambasidore of the joy that Jesus wants me to be.. it is a struggle but worth all of it… If only others would get our attitudes, life would be so much more fofilling(My spelling is not positive) but my heart is.. my family doesn't know what I'm up against but Jesus does…..Dianne in centrel Florida
I find joy in my family get togethers as well as with frineds. I also have hope that the New Year will bring good and new things. Of course I also find joy that our Lord and Savior was born. Happy Birethday Jesus!!
For me, the great joy I feel is realizing the nature of our awesome, mighty, wonderful, Father God. He is so full of love, mercy, and grace! What if He didn't love us so?
Thanks for His inexpressible Gift! Shirley Calhoun, Tampa, FL
Luci,
Thank you so much for this message this morning. In the last few months my world has been completely shaken and so very much in a disorganized and crazy mess both physically and emotionally. September 27th I lost my father and had tended to his care for the four days prior (as primary decision maker) as he tried to commit suicide and my mom decided she didn't want any more to do with him. She did take care of him for so many years and was so worn out but she has moved on so quickly and in such a way that I feel a deeper burden of pain when being in relationship with her and her lack of wanting a relationship with my family. So this past week I set a boundary to stop communication until I am in a place to work through it rather than be torn down by it every day.
My kids and I talk about JOY meaning Jesus, Others, You, in fact I had the word JOY and a red cross tattooed on the inside of my left wrist so that I will have a constant reminder of how I should live my life…. finding the JOY in it but also how I should look at life, first looking to Jesus, then looking at others circumstances and then to myself.
So today, when I read your message I realized that no matter what is happening God is helping me through it one thought, one decision, one moment at a time and it is not my battle alone but he is in me and will be glorified through this pain.
Thank you again,
Bobbie Jo Ryan
Kennesaw, GA
I want to choose Joy….this is a daily struggle for me. I want to rid my life of negativity!
Luci, one day the Lord dropped this statement into my spirit, "The pain of my past has brought me pleasure in the present." The only way I could understand the depth of this was to realize that I had the choice of making the pain into something totally different than the "norm." I chose, if you will, to make Philippians 4:4 my life's attitude. I cannot understand all that actually happens in your heart, mind and spirit when you choose this, but I can tell you it WORKS! I chose pain to make me better….not bitter!!!!!
Joan Anderson Bruce , Atlanta, Georgia
Hi! Today I hung up a fruit of the spirit poster in my kitchen. After reading your comment I took my bible to see what scripture said. I continued reading Phil 4:4-7, about joy, self control, worry and finding peace. This morning my husband and I prayed for these VERY fruits and how to hang on to them on a daily basis. Now you led me to scripture to reinforce what we prayed about this morning! God is amazing! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
God is good…..all the time!
You say you don't make your camp around negative people. In what ways can we choose the positive when those closest to us are negative and we aren't able to distance ourselves from them?
Hi Amy, Me too … My husband is 99.9999999% negative, it's very difficult ! Jude
Make time to call a positive friend – or read Isaiah – or to watch a funny movie with your husband. If you can get out, be sure it is with a positive person. Good luck.
I feel you!!!!! My husband is a great man and loves JESUS and what CHRISTmas stands for. BUT… he is like a scrooge.. very depressed and it angers him to see people waste money on the commercialism…when there are those starving and unable to be a part of any festivities. My… how it breaks my heart too…and I love my husband and agree with much of his thinking on this…No Bah Hum Bug here! I am the the one who makes Christmas happen, Shopping & giving Gifts, singing, cooking, telling all I greet a Merry Christmas and what and why I'm celebrating. I'm happier than any other time of year. I love this season!! I do community volunteering (he won't) So I have prayed about this for 17 years. Sometimes it is so hard. I choose to Enjoy the season!
I enjoyed this reading because sometimes I believe that I am the only one who experienced these mood swings. I desire to live in the joy that God promises me and today, I know that all things are possible. Thanks for giving me the hope that it is possible.
To me, Joy is a choice. Today I choose to be joyous!
Luci,
I really heard you speaking to me today. We must have the similiar personalities. I have always been called the optomistic or the"encourager". But as with you I dind it difficult when I am not in control or when things are not in order. I'm praying that God helps me to relax when I'm in these situations.
I hear you both, Joanne and Luci. I'm grateful for you shining the light on what until now seemed such random "crankiness." It's when I'm not in control or things are not flowing in orderly fashion….through no fault of my own, of course
What I can recognize, I can work on. Thanks!
Oh, Joanne….I can relate with both you and Lucy. I can’t help but wonder that our gifts from God put us in leadership roles where we are most needed. And, when we try our darndest to have others experience leadership and they don’t move like we do, frustration enters the scene. I too, am aware of my strengths and weaknesses and very grateful for God’s grace and mercy. PTL!
At this time of the year I find great joy in receiving photos of children in our Christmas cards.
Thanks, I found this very helpful.
I was raised with mostly negative attitudes and wondered how to get this 'joy' I've been hearing about.
I found when I truly focus on the love of God, then joy is there. This discipline is to think only about Christ's baptism Matt. 3:16. I focus on God's response "His is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then I focus on my baptism – when I was responding to Christ's love on the cross and how He forgives us – no matter what. Then I focus on fellow believer's baptisms and think about how we are all loved and forgiven.
This helps me to realize joy doesn't come from our circumstances – they don't really matter because God's love for me doesn't come from anything that I do or say, it is there always. It's up to us to reach out to Him for everything – especially His joy.
Merry Christmas – Celebrating His Peace and Joy
Thanks. I needed to hear that again. I too often let it be based on my circumstances.