Joy

Most people equate joy as happiness or pleasure or contentment, but it is none of those.  All of those things can disappear and yet joy can still remain.  Joy is a gift from God.

Now you may be thinking that is great. I know what joy is not, but how do I find it?  Well first, you need to slow down and wait on God.  We rush around like we are chickens with our heads cutoff going in every direction possible as fast as possible without a clue that we are already dead.

Secondly, we need to be grateful for what we have and who we are.  Yes you could say that is contentment, but contentment can bring discontentment.  Face it, most of us are trying to be something we are not or we want something because we think it will make us happy.  I learned a long time ago who I am and I am ok with that person.  I do not pretend to be something I am not and some people do not like that.  My problem is that I like a lot of hobbies and I like to acquire knowledge.  I am all about making my life easier and less reliant upon industry.

Thirdly, we need to focus on others. I am not sure about you, but I feel great joy when I give versus when I receive.  I know that so many of us have been taught to be selfish and that it is all about our needs, but that is just not the case.  So many people would

Finally, God created you and expects you to live a certain way.  It may be difficult at the present time of understanding God’s plan for you, but if you slow down, show gratitude, focus on others, and pray about it, then I believe you will have a good idea of God’s ultimate plan for you.

I am not saying that the changes you need to make will be easy.  For to long, so many of us have been going down the wrong path. However, that does not mean you can not change your course, but you have to make that decision. God gave you free-will so use it.