Life As it Was Meant to Be

Living a joy-filled life is our birthright. Since we were created in God's image, and God is joy, it is entwined with our very being that we be joyful. To be other than joyful is to be contrary to our nature. It is within us, but it must be released. And it is God's will for us to be joyful.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. (Gen 1:27)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes 5:16-18)

Joy is an outward expression of the inward faith in God's promises. It is not a destination, but rather a path you choose to travel each and every day. To live a joy-filled life, we must learn to trust in God no matter what, to trust that He has our best interest at heart, and He has great plans for my life. To live joyfully thus requires that we focus on God and His goodness to the exclusion of all else.
With every thought, you create a circumstance. Every thought (almost) leads to an action, whether mental, physical, or emotional. Thoughts eventually crystallize into words and actions. Thus, whatever you direct your mind to think about will eventually be revealed for all to see. Our thought life is very random due to the busyness of life. We do not deliberately think throughout the day. Thus, to experience more joy, we need to move from random thinking to deliberate thinking, which is the practice of mental discipline. If you want to experience God's ideal for your life, which is joy, and get the most out of every moment, you must retrain your thoughts and transform your mind.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Rom 12:2)

To feel joy, you must think joyful thoughts. You can't think one thing and experince something otherwise. No one thinks angry thoughts and then feels joyful. Moods and emotions coincide with our thought life. Thinking, talking, and worrying about what you don't want can never bring you what you do want. There is thus no need to worry about the past or the future. All you have is right now. All you can change is the now. Thus, we should focus not on the past, nor the future, but rather the present, since those are the only thoughts (and thus emotions) that you can currently change.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Prov 23:7)

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart (Matt 15:18)


What can you do?

1. Focus on the positives, not the negatives.
2. Focus on progress, not perfection.
3. Make your thoughts focus on God and His good will for you no matter your circumstances or situation.
4. Do not dwell on the past or the present, but rather focus on the present.
5. Become mentally aware of your thought life; in other words, become mentally disciplined.
6. Renew your mind day by day, that you may be transformed (Rom 12:2)
7. To be joyful, think thoughts of joy.

My Application

So how does this apply to me? Well, I am a worrier; I constantly worry about the future, about provision, safety, my kids, my wife, my time, and my life, let alone my work and my patients. So how do I institute change? First, I must decide that I want to change, that I don't want to be a worrier, that I want a joy-filled life. Second, I have to remember constantly to trust in God, no matter the circumstance or situation, that God has a good heart and His intentions for me are good. Third, I cannot focus on the past or the future, but rather focus on the present, and choose to take captive every thought and put it to the test against the word and desires of God, that in me His joy may be complete.