Take joy

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I have decided to take a theme for this blog for the year. That theme is joy. I don’t particularly consider myself to be a someone who is constantly full of and expressing joy, but I would like to be more like that and I have come to believe that it may be possible. Joy is something we’d all like to have – we could all use some more joy in our relationships and in what we do.

The Bible mentions joy quite frequently and I have long assumed that as a Christian I should have it, but I have often felt less joyful realising I didn't seem to have it. Joy that comes by surprise and bubbles up from somewhere is wonderful but it’s somehow out of my control.

I have been encouraged recently with the idea that joy is something that I could learn. I have started to wonder if joy is something that I could cultivate and reinforce in my life. I am starting to believe that God wants me to have joy and if I can just believe the right stuff and not believe the wrong stuff then I may be able to possibly walk in joy.

By focussing, I want to chase it down, to understand it and to do my best to apply God’s Word to my heart and my life. I know that there will be a huge benefit to my life but also those around me. Imagine if my kids look back when they’re grown and remember me as being joyful in their childhood. Imagine the glory it would bring to God if others could see or sense the joy on my life – even when it’s tough.

I’m feeling a deposit of hope in my soul, that it is possible to live a joy-filled life, that I can take joy.

I am aiming to write weekly. I won’t be following any curriculum or chronology, and I’ll do my best to keep it real. I hope it encourages you. Feedback and following is very welcome.

PS – Sarah has started a great new blog called “Supermum world-changer” very worth checking out at http://supermumworldchanger.blogspot.com