Choosing joy can be hard sometimes. Specially during the times when we’re trying to endure some of the most difficult moments that life has to offer. On some days even the smallest step toward joy can feel like climbing a mountain. The truth is, that we can honor a wide range of feelings in the span of one day. While moving at any pace, we can choose to move toward that which is one step lighter. So, why not try to practice experiencing whatever we’re going through from a place of higher joy?
Research has shown that although some people are born with a more positive disposition, anyone can reprogram their thoughts to foster more feelings of joy and happiness. Isn’t that amazing? We can re-train our thoughts to look for more joy. Once we become aware of the negative or repetitive thoughts that keep us distracted and distressed, we can turn toward prayer, the words of God, and positive affirmations to break the cycle.
As we practice inviting thoughts of Joy, we will see that these new positive thoughts will become habitual. We will experience life at a higher level, when we can come from a place of focusing on joy. We don’t have to only focus on the joy that we feel right now. We can also focus on the Joy of knowing that there’s a God who loves and cares about me. That He has a plan for me and all will be ok on the end. TRUSTING IN GOD INCREASES OUR JOY. ❤️ It changes how we feel regardless of what we may be experiencing today. We can overcome the hardest challenges when we can focus on the Joy that God brings and the trust that we have on Him.
Allow yourself to invite that peace into your life by closing your eyes for a moment, taking some deep breaths and asking God to allow you to feel His Joy in this moment. Notice how you feel. Your circumstances may not change right now, but knowing that God is there and that you can invite His Joy to be with you in this very moment can bring so much peace to your soul. Your Joy will grow and your heart and mind will be filled with light and a greater ability to look up to God and to higher Joy for your life. You deserve that! ❤️
One of the best ways to invite Joy into our lives is to focus on thoughts that bring us Joy. Whatever makes you feel happier, or better, focus on that. Spend time with people who uplift you, listen to or watch things that bring you joy, add joy to your life daily by doing a hobby or something that makes you happy. & most importantly, fill your mind with affirmations found in the word of God, to help you fill yourself from the inside out. Using scriptures to regain peace and strength can become one of our best tools to fight against the negative thoughts that try to take over.
God wants us to remember that He created us to have joy! Look at his creations all around, the sun, the sky, plants, animals and all of the beauty of this world is placed here for us to experience Gods peace and Joy. His fingerprints are all around us to remind us of the beauty that there is and that we can find Joy in it. Joy in a sunrise, Joy in a sunset, Joy in the birds we hear or the color of the flowers that we see. He obviously wants to surround us with things that bring us joy. We just gave to change our focus and look for them. Even to the point that we ourselves (as the creation of God that we are) can honor Him by CHOOSING TO FOCUS ON THE JOY THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN & OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST CAN PROVIDE.
There’s a quote from President Russell M. Nelson which says; “Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!
And what was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home—clean and worthy—to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.”If we focus on the joy that will come to us, or to those we love, what can we endure that presently seems overwhelming, painful, scary, unfair, or simply impossible?..”
We truly can do and overcome all things through Christ who strengthens us. ❤️
How amazing that Our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave His life for you and me, was able to focus on the Joy that will come, while enduring the most excruciating experience. We can try to be like the Savior, we can try to focus on the Joy of overcoming whatever we may be going through right now and on rising above the pains we may be experiencing. We can choose to look for Joy today and to invite the Joy that God has to completely cover us and surround us.
Here’s an example of a scripture we can focus on.
1 Thessalonians 6:16-18 Says; Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Joy is an essential part of those who believe in God. Because we know and trust in a God who created us to have Joy. We know that He wants us to find joy in the journey. He wants us to learn to CHOOSE that for ourselves. & I believe that if it comes from the word of God, it’s placed there with love. There is wisdom in the words of God, and I believe that someday He will ask us about how much Joy we chose to focus on in our lives.
When we can feel our connection to God, we can start to see that as children of God, He wants us to experience the ups and downs of life with Him. That we may remember that through it all we can find joy and focus on the opportunity of seeing God amidst whatever storm we may be facing. He truly can become the God of our circumstances. We can strengthen our faith in Him, notice the good around us and focus on joy one day at a time.
Joy isn’t a feeling that is dependent on our circumstances. It is a response to the goodness of God and our eternal salvation. I once heard someone say “Choosing joy has very little to do with how we feel and everything to do with how we obey, how we trust and how we believe in the love of God.” ❤️
Choosing joy is a spiritual practice, renewing our connection with the divine as we become lighter, more mindful and more peaceful. When in alignment with the spirit of God we can relax and trust that all things will be done according to His will. We will trust and focus on our blessings. We will see that we are safe. We are home in the peace of God. And this is who we really are.
Gos is a God of love and of Joy. He wants us to choose more Joy! That’s why He sent us here. His purpose for us is to be joyful. Christ sacrificed himself for us looking forward to the joy that His sacrifice would bring to all humanity. The opportunity for us to repent, to return to Him. The plan of God for us is based on his love and Joy for his children. We can choose today to be more joyful and to look for the joy in all circumstances that we may be in. That we may focus on the hope & Joy that we can have as we overcome our challenges and difficulties. We can train ourselves to focus on the good, on love, peace and the joy that can come living a life aligned and connected to God daily.
President Russell M. Nelson said; “The joy we feel has little to do with “the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives,” As we focus on keeping God at the center of our lives, praying and strengthening our relationship with Him. We will experience the true and lasting joy that surpasses any material or worldly possessions we may gain. True and lasting joy comes from God. & it will strengthen us and fill us each day of our lives.
Our goal for the week is to FOCUS ON JOY. We can practice choosing joy in this very moment. We have to PRACTICE feeling joy and inviting more of it into our lives. 💪🏼☺️
Find joy in loving ourselves, in choosing things that bring us joy daily. We can be joyful in your activities. while exercising we can choose to focus on the Joy of doing something good for ourselves. We can choose to be joyful in the moments when we’re taking care of others. Even choosing joy while we clean or do our daily tasks. We can practice it! Try it out and notice how much better you feel.
Finally, in your heart say to yourself: I open my heart to the possibility of joy flowing in my life. I am grateful for the gifts of today. I trust that my benevolent Father has a divine plan for my highest good. I trust in Him and in myself. I choose Joy one moment at a time💛🥰
Hope that you can make it to CLASS TONIGHT AT 7pm. We will focus on releasing stress and also on allowing ourselves to focus on being joyful and grateful for all that we have and are able to do. Remember that you are your own best cheerleader and that the motivation to get yourself to class has to come from YOU! 💪🏼😝 So, do this for yourself and feel the difference. You’ll leave feeling renewed and amazing! ❤️ Hope to see you there! ❤️
Love,
Lili 🌸
