Cultivate a Cheerful Heart
2 Corinthians 13:11
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
We all have days where it is tough to be happy with a joyful heart. Have you ever had the day when you feel like a grumpy Christian? When we are like this, it is a struggle to be a witness for the Lord. It affects our whole day.
The question is, how do we get out of this funk we are in? So, our first job every morning is to get happy in God, because until that’s the case, we are of no use to anybody. If we’re going to get serious about being happy, we must pursue what makes us so in God. Otherwise, we just drift through life desperately trying to be happy with what the world has to offer. We know that will not last.
Get into God’s Word, the Bible is the greatest, richest, deepest source of fuel for a Christian to use. Spending time with God will transform your outlook for your day.
Isaiah tells us that giving ourselves to others is a great way change our outlook.
Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Whether we express it by serving, giving, encouraging, or praying—or all four—giving ourselves to others increases our joy.
Joy is a “Fruit of the Spirit”, so we need to be in touch with the Holy Spirit that dwells within each Christian. Nurturing our relationship with God by spending quality time with Him. What works best for our family is to start our day talking to God by reading His Word and talking with God in Prayer.
Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Remember, being glad isn’t always easy, but we can cultivate a cheerful heart when we focus on the only source of true happiness—God Himself.
Psalm 16:11
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
