A little passage in Psalms struck me this morning and I thought I’d share the wisdom to get us thinking this week.
It seems that all of us are searching for meaning, happiness, purpose, or something more in this life to satisfy our souls.
Whether we admit it or not, deep in our hearts is a longing to know how to find joy.
Sure we can try to find joy in things like keeping a joy journal or finding a true friend, but what’s the ultimate answer to ultimate happiness?
Photo credit: istockphoto.com/iakovkalinin
As I was reading Psalm 4, I noticed something David said about how to find joy that I thought was a great reminder!
Check out Psalm 4:6-7:
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
How to Find Joy
Here’s a few things that I noticed:
1. Money isn’t the source of our joy
Yes, there is a certain amount of happiness and satisfaction that comes from money.
When our “grain and wine abound” we receive joy, but it isn’t the source of our joy.
Joy from money is fleeting.
Our delight in the latest deal, sale, gadget, or the landing of a big contract always fades away.
2. God is the source of joy
“You have put more joy in my heart”, David says about God.
God is the one in whom we find joy. Lasting, ultimate joy.
Why?
Because that is how He created the world to be.
There is a rhythm to the way God created this world where people have a relationship with Him and are satisfied in Him.
Unfortunately, when sin entered the picture in Genesis 3, the rhythm of the world was hijacked.
Now we run to all other vices, devices, work, relationships, and hobbies trying to find joy.
3. How to find joy in God?
So how do we do this? The answer lies in verse 5:
Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 51is helpful in understanding what right sacrfices means:
- A broken spirit
- A broken and contrite heart
In other words, we recognize our sin, acknowledge it before God, turn away from it in humble repentance, and put our trust in Him.
The gospel is where we begin to find joy.
Everlasting happiness.
What are your thoughts on how to find joy?
Leave a comment below, or let us know on Facebook!
Also, please Retweet this message.
IRA Withdrawal Rules – When Can You Withdraw Your IRA?
10 Money-Saving Tips to Help You Stash $10,000!
Well Paying Careers: 30 Jobs That Pay $30 Per Hour
7 Most Important Habits That Rich People Use to Build Wealth
Should You Give Money to a Homeless Person?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Kind of reminds me of what Pastor Steve said about the definition of joy: Joy stands for Jesus, Others and You. You can’t go wrong if you abide by those things in that order!!!
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we [1] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith [2] into this grace in which we stand, and we [3] rejoice [4] in hope of the glory of God.
Through Jesus, in Him, and in this powerful Grace, we exult in the certainty that He will get all the Glory due His Name…and that demands our glorification. Sin will not be the dominating word on our lives. He will bring us in: That Day will be a day of Joy!
Jude 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to
the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.
Amen.
Amen!
Yeah, that’s a great acronym!