Let us Pray:
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Just close your eyes Just yield yourself For life on earth But God only asks us So when you are tired, |
And that is the door And the House of Prayer For the heart is a temple And He hears every prayer The burdens that seemed |
Is it God’s will that we enjoy our lives? If so, why aren’t we? What is stealing our joy? What changes can we make to really enjoy the life God has given us?
How would you feel if you won the lottery?
I mean a really big one, like 100 million or so?
Pretty good, right?
If you won 100 million that would undoubtedly make your day. It won't make your life but I will admit, it will do a pretty good job of making your day.
It would be hard to convince anyone that you weren't very fortunate if you won a big lottery.
Which prize is greater, money or life?
Do you know how many sperm are released from the average male during the act of procreation?
Approximately 300 million sperm are released.
Only one fertilizes the egg. Each sperm will produce a different person with different characteristics.
300 million sperm compete in a race to fertilize the egg.
The one that wins makes the baby.
You won.
Out of 300 million, you won.
You got life.
The lottery has odds of around fifty something million to one. You won a race with odds of 300 million to one. You won a greater prize than money in a race with greater odds than the lottery. You won life.
Studies have shown that most big lottery winners aren't as happy five years later. I know countless that have won the prize of life. Unfortunately, they, like the big lottery winners, often end up sad. The thing about life. . . Not only did you win the initial race - each morning that you wake up you've won again.
Don't be like the typical big lottery winner.
Celebrate the win.
Celebrate the day.
Recognize the prize.
Each day.
I believe it is God’s will that His people – us – you and I - enjoy life. Jesus said in John 10:10: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance.
Jesus came to give us life – not just to give us breath to breathe. He came to give us life as God knows it - full, rich, meaningful and satisfying. He didn’t suffer the flogging or beating and the agony of hanging on the cross so that we could live mad, worried, depressed, stressed, frustrated and aggravated all the time. Hi died that we may have life and be filled with His joy.
Jesus says in John 15:11: “I have told you these things so that my joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing:” and in John 17:13: “And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so that they would be filled with my joy”.
What is enjoying everyday life?
It’s not necessarily about laughing and telling jokes all day long. It’s also not about getting paid every Friday, buying a bigger house, getting a new car or going on vacation. Sure, those things are nice, but enjoying everyday life is not based on emotions, events or things. We all have responsibilities and things that have to get done. So when I said that I believe it’s God’s will that we enjoy our lives, I’m not talking about entertaining ourselves from dawn to dark or getting our way all the time.
Most of life is not some big hilarious event. The majority of life is very ordinary. It’s Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then back to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…and on it goes.
Everyday life is about going to work, driving in traffic, coming home, taking out the garbage and paying the bills. It’s about getting up, cooking, cleaning, changing diapers and teaching our kids good behavior. And it’s this ordinary everyday life that God wants us to enjoy. Sure, life has difficulties and disappointments, but God has given us the power of the Holy Spirit, Who lives inside us, to deal with things that people without Christ in their lives find monotonous, boring and frustrating. We are supernaturally anointed to live an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.
Galatians 5:22 says; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
Joy, as the Bible defines it, is anything from extreme hilarity to a calm delight, which is basically a strong sense of peace or an inner sense of contentment that comes from knowing God and having Christ in our lives. It is not dependent on people or things. And it’s always there. No one can take it away from us if we live in the will of God. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:3 that in Christ, you and I have been blessed with every spiritual Blessing, and that includes joy. The Father has anointed us with the oil of joy just as He anointed Jesus.
Hebrews 1:9 say; “You love right and hate wrong; so God, even your God, has poured out more gladness upon you than on anyone else.” – or as it reads in the Amplified Bible: - has anointed you with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond your companions.”
That’s quite a blessing, isn’t it? When we set our hearts on loving what’s right, delighting in integrity and virtue and hating lawlessness, the oil of joy and gladness is able to flow in every area of our lives. This does not mean we have to have a perfect performance. It just means that we love the Lord with all our hearts, and we get up every day and aim to do what is right, honest and truthful. When we do our best and trust God to do the rest, His oil of joy and gladness will flow.
Unfortunately, there are many Christians on their way to heaven that are not enjoying the trip. If you and I are not enjoying the journey, nobody is going to want what we have.And that’s exactly what Satan wants. Remember, it’s the joy of the Lord that’s our strength.
The truth is, God wants us to enjoy our lives. We are His ambassadors – we are His representatives, and He is making His appeal to the world through us.
I think I’ve mentioned this before in a previous message: “That we are often the only Bible some people will ever read.”
In 2 Corinthians 5:20 it says;” We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ Himself were here pleading with you, receive the love He offers you – be reconciled to God.”
As Christian believers we are walking advertisements for what it is like to have a personal relationship with Jesus. No wonder Satan fights so hard to keep Christians sad, mad, aggravated, frustrated, judgmental, critical and depressed. He does not want us to have any joy because that would show others how good God is and how wonderful it is to be in a relationship with Him
.So how does Satan rob us of our joy? He sets us up to get us upset – he puts things in our path that drain the joy right out of us. He may not be able to read our thoughts, but he can certainly read our actions – and reactions. He knows what our “hot buttons” are and how and when to push them. It’s in these areas, where we are constantly losing our joy that God wants to strengthen us and set us free from the enemy’s grasp.
What IS stealing our joy?
As unique as we are, so are our “joy stealers”.
Are you overwhelmed because you have said “yes” to too much. Are too many people laying claim to your time. Are you doing too many things yourself because nobody else can do it exactly the way you want it done? – Or because they are too slow, too quick, too picky………? Do you have to be right every time there’s a discussion?
And probably one of the greatest joy stealers I’ve personally discovered is constantly feeling tired, worn out, sick and full of aches and pains. Thankfully, I’ve learned to a great degree, we can overcome always feeling bad by making a better choice of lifestyle. We can choose to eat better, drink enough liquids (and not snaps and beer); exercise and most of all get enough rest each night. Those suggestions may sound insignificant, but their effects are profound. If we feel bad physically, it really affects our level of joy. We have a spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body. And when one part of our tri-part being is neglected, all three parts suffer. So if that’s your problem eat your carrots and broccoli, watch the 6 o’clock news and not the 10 or 11 o’clock (news), exercise more, and get a personal trainer – a dog that you have to walk a few times a day no matter how the weather is.
I am sure that some of you may be thinking; “How can I have and enjoy my life when I’m in the middle of a difficult situation that seems to go on forever and forever?” I have asked myself that question many times before, the most memorable while Erik was sick and when he died. But it all came down to making a decision to be content and holding on to my joy
.No matter how bad your circumstances look, God loves you. Never let go of that truth. Keep it in your mind and keep it in your mouth. If you are in the midst of a situation that’s robbing you of your joy start praying. It can be a very simple prayer like: “God I don’t like this, but for some reason I need this experience to fulfill Your destiny in my life. I believe it will work out for the good even though it does not feel good right now. I cast my care upon You, and I ask You to carry me through this situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
As believers, we are more than conquerors because we have Jesus walking with us through our problems. Our worst day with Jesus will always be better than our best day without Him!
The bottom line is that the ability to enjoy life comes from God, but we must make it a matter of importance. In Ecclesiastes 2:24 it says;”…there is nothing better for man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God”.
There are many things in life that will only pass by us once, so we need to take time to enjoy them while we have them.
What is passing YOU by right now that you are never going to get back again?
Don’t miss the enjoyment you could be having. Go to God now, and ask Him to release His oil of joy and gladness in you. Ask Him to help you make better choices today so that you can enjoy your everyday life more.
Then put you foot down and yell; “Devil, that’s it! You’ve stolen my joy long enough. From this day forward I am going to learn how to enjoy my life. I’m going to learn how to enjoy mundane things, like cooking, cleaning and paying bills and all the exciting things that come my way.”
Be open to the Holy Spirits promptings. If you let Him, He will show you what to change and how to change it so that you can enjoy the abundant life Jesus died to give you!
The real bottom line is: We will enjoy our lives when we choose to start enjoying plain old ordinary everyday life – no matter what!
Someone translated the word “joy” this way:
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
Let me end this message with a prayer that a friend of mine sent to me some time ago:
Dear Father thank you for this day
The wonder I can't hide
The glow of true belonging
That I feel so warm inside,
For patience when I stray
From pathway true, and then somehow
The gift of sight to see beyond
The darker clouds of now.
Dear Father, thank you for this day
Your presence ever near
The colors and the splendor
Of all living things that cheer,
The joy of safe arrival
In completing Living's vow,
The gift of sight to see beyond
The darker clouds of now.
Dear Father, thank you for this day
And all that I have earned
From travelling's rich experience
Wise lessons slowly learned,
To rest at evensong
And know your blessings still endow
The gift of sight to see beyond
The darker clouds of now!
(Source Unknown)Amen!
Anne Jorgensen
August 22, 2004