“Walking Joyfully with God”
Part 1
Don’t “give” your Joy away the wrong way.
No one can “Take” away your joy,
you have to “Give” it away
“I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.
-John 10:17,18
We know that we are “Giving” joy away the wrong way if Joy is
SUBTRACTED.
Is it worth “giving” that person or that situation “my” joy?
Who is in control here?
Am I, or is the other person in control of “my” life?
Real “GIVING” OF
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another.”
-Romans 12:11,12,15,16
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
-Matthew 5:5
Meekness = Strength under control.
You are stronger than you think with the help of the Lord.
Your strength just may not be under control.
When we are Out-of-control, we are “Reacting”.
When we are In-control, we are “Responding”.
Keeping calm is largely a “Learned behavior”.
Things that we can do…
1. Pray
2. Realize that most people usually do not change very much.
YOU have control over YOU.
3. Tend to your own business
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.”
-1 Thessalonians 4:11
4. Focus on your Character
5. Run YOUR race
“Love, JOY peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
-Galatians 5:22
“Giving Joy Away” can mean
1. Sharing your joy, or bringing joy to others.
That is good
2. Giving your joy away.
To the point that you don’t have it anymore.
That is bad