The Key to Joy

Written by Dorothy Brown

Has something robbed you of your joy recently? http://talk.thelife.com/2006/06/13/the-key-to-joy-2/

Susan made the decision and pushed away the uncomfortable little nudge that told her not to. It was a small thing… and everyone else seemed to think it was OK. As her day progressed she found her joy was replaced with a flat feeling. “Why???? she wondered.

Have you ever felt the closeness of God, enjoying His presence and feeling like you never want to stray from that place? Then all at once you realize your joy is gone and you are simply feeling flat? God’s Word tells us why this happens and what to do about it. Listen to Psalm 51:12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.???

Do you see how a willing spirit is connected to your joy? The chapter is a familiar one calling us to search our hearts and to desire truth in the inner parts.

In the rush of our daily lives we can easily get caught up in the thinking around us. We can allow things into our hearts and lives, that seemly “everyone??? is doing and we quiet the uneasy stirrings in our soul. We wonder why we feel flat when we have known God’s presence so recently.

Our willingness to have God speak to us in the inner places of our heart is the key to keeping His joy. Oh, some of the things He may put His finger on may seem, at first, too small to consider…

    * unkind words spoken about a neighbor or co-worker
    * keeping the extra change the store clerk mistakenly gave you
    * distorting the truth
    * allowing unforgiveness to settle into your heart for a long stay
    * cheating on some paperwork

Or it may be bigger things you tell yourself you will face someday…

    * immoral behavior that you are sure no one knows about
    * a destructive habit that threatens to become an addiction
    * financial pitfalls that you hope to control before they control you

Go to God with a willing heart and ask Him to search you and help you to overcome whatever He puts His finger on. No momentary satisfaction can ever replace the joy of being clean before Him. That’s what you were made for… to be a clean vessel His Spirit can flow through. Don’t miss the blessing… anything else is simply not worth it.

~Father God,
Today I ask You to grant me a willing spirit to sustain me as I lean on You to help me with the changes I need to make. I cannot do it alone. I want Your joy restored in my heart and in my life. Put Your finger on what You want me to deal with right now. Today I choose truth in my inner part. Help me and draw me close to You. Restore to me the joy of knowing I am clean before You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

About the Author
This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Learn more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/

Questions
Have you ever felt flat in your relationship with God?
Are you willing to let Him put His finger on anything that may be blocking fellowship with Him?
Ask Him to fill you in a new and fresh way today.

Comments
Post your comments on TruthMedia’s women’s devotional blog. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and just click on the word “Comment??? (no need to register).
Join the live chat today at 10:30 am Eastern: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/minidevos.html

Related Article
Is real joy possible?
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/devotionals/daily/2715.html

Copyright
This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from TruthMedia Internet Group. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please see our guidelines: http://talk.thelife.com/reprint-permission/

5 Responses to “The Key to Joy”

Loading comments
opal ronning says:

June 14, 2006 at 9:26 am

I really enjoyed the article and found is so true. I do see that in my own life, what makes me uncomfortable would not necessary make another uncomfortable or may not notice that there joy has left. I have to confess there are times that it takes me awhile to come to the understanding what is going on. But when I do I do come and ask the Lord to help me change what I am thinking, doing, and confess it is sin and he turns me feelings to joy or contentment. Thanks for the article.
Chris says:

June 14, 2006 at 5:38 am

Thank you so very much for this devotional…
It thoroughly touched my heart. =)
tania says:

June 13, 2006 at 12:07 pm

i thank god for speaking to my heart through you gail.
peaceful says:

June 13, 2006 at 8:29 am

I went to visit my 89 year old mother yesterday and it seemed to me that she was particularly negative about herself and in general. I came away feeling that the “joy”
had left somewhat. Reading your devotional again reminded me that I don’t receive my true joy from others but that God gives it. My need to look to Him and He will “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.??? Thanks for the reminder.
Joyful says:

June 13, 2006 at 8:06 am

Thank you for the reminder this morning Gail that we need to be listening to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives in order to continue experiencing that joy that God promises us! It’s so easy to slide into complacency and then wonder why the joy is missing! I needed this today!