Last week we talked about home cooking and that it can be simple to take control of what you are eating.  I hope you incorporated more home cooking into your family meals this past week even if it was just a few.  I also hope you involved the family in this event and made it fun.

This week the spoke on the Circle of Life we are going to look at is Joy.  For me it would be hard to talk about “Joy” without quoting what God says about it.

“… for the Joy of the Lord is our strength and stronghold!”

Nehemiah 8:10 The Amplified Bible

I think about Joy often and I think about what God says about it.  For me, joy isn’t just a feeling.  It’s a “fruit “of walking in the Spirit of God.

You might ask, “How can I have joy in my life?  There is so much going on in the world let alone my life that I’m struggling to be joyful.”    I get it.  I totally understand.  I’ve been there and I found that when I focused more on the negative issues in my life, the bigger they got and the more trying issues that came my way.  I had to find a way out.  I had to find a way to choose to think differently even when things were not looking so positive.

That’s when I sought to understand what God has to say about these issues.  I wanted to understand how I could have joy in my life … even when in the natural it didn’t look good.  That’s when I found this promise in God’s Word.  It ignited a new life in me.  It propelled me to make the decision to live with joy … even if my emotions were fighting it.

“You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy,

at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11 The Amplified Bible

He had to show me my path, my plan, and the purpose that He had for me.  If I stayed in His presence, I would have “fullness of joy!”  What could be better than that.  Having His joy, I will find strength to get through whatever issues were presenting themselves to me.

I believe we need to decide to walk in Joy!  We need to decide that we will follow His path and His plan.  Then we can watch how things will unfold for us.  Over time that decision of joy will bloom into the feeling of joy and happiness.

If you struggle in this area and are dealing with anxiety and depression and would like to talk this through or if you would like some coaching in this area, feel free to  Schedule a Call Together.   Remember, I’m here for you.

Your Spiritual Life and Health Coach … believing in you!