Happiness is dependent upon people and material things. Many times happiness comes and goes depending on whether our situations are in our favor of not. Happiness is only temporary.

Joy is not based on people or material things, it’s based on the spirit of God within us. Joy is eternal. When you develop the true Joy of the Lord, you make the choice that no matter what comes your way, you will walk in the Lord’s perfect peace.

The bible says that He will keep us in His perfect peace if we keep our mind stayed on Him. You may have so many things hitting you left and right but if you choose to be joyful, and trust that the Lord will keep you in perfect peace, you’ll find life to be a lot less stressful. Joy is something that the world didn’t give and the world can’t take it away.

Notice, I frequently use the word choice. That’s what it all boils down to. It’s your choice to choose a life of peace and joy. Here are some ways to help you establish the joy of the Lord in your heart:

• Improve your relationship with God – Stay in the will of the Lord, and trust that He will guide your footsteps. Know that you can have anything you want when you ask God. He’ll give you the desires of your heart and grant you joy.

• Never react Immediately - When the enemy throws you a curve ball, never react immediately based on the emotions that you feel. Instead, take a moment to calm down you are able to think more logically when you are in a relaxed state of mind.

• Pray Daily – You’ll find that when you pray and release all of your burdens into God’s hands, He will grant you peace and joy. It’s not something that happens over night but overtime you will learn that God is a God that cannot lie. He will stand by his word. If He says it in His word, it will indeed come to pass.

• Study the Word of God Daily - When you have the word as a strong foundation in your heart, you have the assurance that, the same way He healed the sick, and fed five-thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread is the same way He will work in your life. Knowing that alone is enough to give you joy.

I remember when I was younger, if I ever felt like I was lonely, I’d be tempted to get down spirited but as long as I knew my mother and father were there to show me the way, I then knew that everything was going to be alright.

At that time, my happiness was based on the fact that my mother and father were with me to encourage me that everything was going to be alright.

Now that I’m older, I’m able to make decisions of my own. And although my parents are still very active in my life, I’ve developed a personal relationship with Christ for myself and as a result I have joy within my heart. As long as you have Him in your heart and understand that He is the Alpha and Omega, He is the beginning and the end, then something about that will resonate in your heart and give you peace.

Remember if you keep God first, He’ll make a way of provision for you. And if that isn’t enough to rejoice over, I don’t know what is.

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