I want JOY!

“But the fruit of the spirit is….joy….”Galatians 5:22

God’s Holy Spirit produces joy. Joy is a product of Christ-likeness. When we seek God through His Word and prayer, we will receive joy! Thank God that joy is something He wants us to have.

Okay, all that said, I am angry today.  I can't say that I have a real reason for my anger.  My focus today has been on the behavior of everyone else in my life: ...how my husband acts toward me...the tone of voice family members use when talking to me...the people who have disappointed me in my past...my son's recent layoff...the way I have been put into the position of 'child' in the family dynamics... my husband's bigotry and grumbling regarding current events. 

No wonder I am angry today. I am focused on the wrong things.  When your eyes are not properly focused, you do not see well.  When my mind is not focused correctly, I do not feel well.  So now is the time to put on the proper focus.  If I want joy, I need to be joyful.   

 I am not responsible for everything that happens to me, but I am responsible for how I react to what happens to me. I am always responsible for my attitude towards any situation in which I find myself.  My attitude is my reaction what life hands me. I can either have a more positive or more negative attitude. My reaction is under my control. My mood and attitude are under my control. With the right attitude I can be a resilient person. I can have JOY!

There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness springs from situations. Joy is a decision I make regardless of the situations. If I can't find reasons to be joyful, my perspective must change. God lets us have blessings every day. I will see them and thank God for them. Additionally, I will ask for God's blessings! Some think they should be blessed with joy automatically, but God's Word says "you have not because you do not ask". Ask for joy!