Step One – It’s Easy to Cultivate Joy through Praise and Worship
It is easy and a joy to sing a song of praise and worship to the Lord. Paul encourages us, “to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18c-19 NASB)
Step Two – It’s Easy to Develop Joy in God’s Word
It is easy to enjoy God’s Word especially when listening to audio Bibles. I recommend The Passion Translation: The New Testament: With Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs. If you have children (or are a child at heart), Jesus and the Acts of the Apostles (Dramatized) by Your Story Hour are wonderful. They’re not for kids only as adults find it easy to enjoy the Word dramatized!
Step Three – Finding God’s Heart in Prayer Can be Easy and Joyous
Prayer is our opportunity to pour out our heart to the Lord, then listen and gain His perspective. “The Lord is near to the heartbroken and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The Lord allows us to feel His heart for other people who are being crushed by sin, sorrow or injustice. There is a joy in sharing others burdens by partnering with the Lord in prayer.
Step Four – Easy (or Not) Let us Grow in the Spirit of God
Sometimes it seems easy to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Sometimes fostering growth is both challenging and stretching because it requires us to deny ourselves take up our cross and follow Him. (Galatians 5:22-23; Luke 9:23)
Step Five – The Spirit of God Makes it Easy to Nurture Joy in Relationships
When we are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, we are more likely to represent the love of God to others. Love is sometimes easy and sometimes requires much labor and sacrifice, but it is always rewarding because the Spirit of God makes it profitable. Whether we see the fruit of our labor of love in the relationship now, years in the future or it is delayed in our lifetime, we can give love freely, forgive generously, and do everything as unto the Lord. For God is Love and His Love never fails. (James 1:19-20)
Recommendation:
The Art of Encouragement The Art of Encouragement – Strength with Dignity
References:
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Every Friday, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is easy.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
26 thoughts on “5 Easy Steps to Cultivate Joy in the Lord”
Perhaps you, friend, will think it odd
that joy comes as a flood,
and my greatest love for God
comes when I puke up blood.
I’m not a loony masochist,
nor, I think, out of my mind,
but now I fathom this life’s gist
and can learn to be kind
to those who choose to disagree
and treat me with disdain;
indeed, far be it from me
to wish another pain,
but rather, in my heart’s the grace
to give a foe a resting-place.
Joy is knowing His heart…just a little bit, Andrew. Having a heart full of grace to others, even a foe, is quite the testimony of His loving transformation of our selfish human hearts.
Lisa, thank you for these 5 easy steps to cultivating joy in the Lord! I have such joy reading these. Blessings to you.
I’m so glad you were encouraged, Deborah! Blessings to you!
Great tips!
Our faith should not be a complicated endeavor.
Visiting from #FMF
So true, Barb, faith doesn’t have to be complicated!
This is great, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Cindy!
I’ve not heard of “Your Story Hour.” Will check it out.
Your Story Hour has some great products, Sandra! If you go to their website, you’ll get more options than on amazon. Our family favorites were Jesus and Acts of the Apostles. They have some great history ones too. Happy listening!
I love these tips, because they all involve looking to God in some way. Time in the Word and Christian music are probably the two biggest spurs to joy for me. And fellowship with His people.
Worship and the Word are huge joy boosters, Barbara!
Lisa, I enjoyed this 5 minute Friday and especially your 5 steps for joy. Joy is definitely something we can cultivate in our lives.
I’m so glad you were encouraged, Karen!
Great steps!
May you have great joy in the Lord, Maria!
I enjoyed reading this post and joy just happens to be one of my most favorite words! Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 74. Pinned.
May you have much joy during this season in which we celebrate Easter, Dee!
CONGRATS Lisa! Your post is FEATURED at the Unlimited Link Party 75!
Thanks, Dee!
We can cultivate joy in our lives and then, God just causes it to burst forth in our lives. It is a most amazing feeling to experience joy, especially when you least expect it.
So true, Joanne! Joy seems to just burst forth in surprising ways!
Great tips, Lisa, my favorite way of cultivating Joy is finding God’s heart in prayer!
Being in His Presence brings the deepest joy available to us on earth, Donna, there is truly nothing else like Him.
Hey, Lisa I love these 5 easy steps to cultivate Joy in the Lord. Amen indeed.
I appreciate you sharing these with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
Joy is contagious, Paula!