Say there, don’t take this personal, but judging from your face, you’ve lost your joy; or for sure, your best friend!

“Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” John 20:20 Adapted from April 8 reading from David Jeremiah’s Destinations.

Sherwood Wirt (1911-2008), the last man to interview CS Lewis before Lewis died and the founding editor of Billy Graham’s “Decision Magazine,” plus 28 well known books wrote, “Joy is the enjoyment of God and the good things that come from God, for if the Bible gives us the wonderful words of life, joy supplies the music.”

So, what are we to do if we’ve lost our Joy? Perhaps these are a few suggestions.

1. Simple, first admit the loss to God.  Since the Bible commands us to be joyful, then loosing our joy is a sin, and known sins are to be confessed.
2. Jamie Winship’s book titled Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God offers the advice of asking yourself whenever in turmoil or at a loss of direction, whether for yourself or others, to approach God in prayer by 1.) asking Him what do you want me to know about this situation, and when that has been reconciled, 2.) to then ask God, what do you want me to do with this information. How can I be of help?
3. Check your mind for lies, your body for unresolved suffering, your will for un-tethered pride, and your heart and conscience for self-imposed accusations (See April 7 2024 MM blog) praying for discernment, the necessary revelations, and then, the obedience to take corrective action.
4. Focus on the Lord Himself. Rededicate yourself to Him. Our joy in life flows from our fellowship with Him.
5. Make up your mind to be joyful. Abraham Lincoln is quoted as having said a person is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be. I’ve also heard we are a reflection and a summary of the five persons we spend the most of our time with. Accurate for you? You can generally choose your friends, perhaps not co-workers, but you can always stack the deck with a vibrant 30-60-90 morning devotional and prayer time, or by available intervals throughout your day.
6. Fourth, search out and memorize some of the Bible’s great verses about joy.
7. And finally, live as though everyday were Easter. When we start and end each day knowing the risen Christ is near us, it’s difficult to lose our Joy for long.