Joy of Focus

 

    The way you think directs the way you feel.  How you feel influences the way you behave.  The accumulation of all of this makes up the conditions of your life.  That means that you life is based on your choices.  The good news is that you can focus and pray in on what you want and change things that you don't like.

    Focus helps you become a keen observer.  It gives you the ability to analyze the world around you.  Indirectly, this can bring you joy because you start seeing the changes in your life.  How you think and focus your attention will bring you joy or misery.

    Focus requires the learned skill set of mental discipline.  It requires continuous work.  If you slack off, then you will have to start over in some areas.  It is like working out: 30 days of not strength training and your muscles start to go back to their lazier state.  The same goes for mental discipline.  If you slack, then your emotions will start controlling you instead of you controlling your emotions.

    Mental discipline helps make goals and focus a reality.  Without it, you struggle with simple things and your moods become unpredictable even for you.  However, if you work it then you upgrade your life to more potential in every area.  

    Focus cultivates clarity.  Clarity makes the path clear in front of you for a distance.  It is what makes your goals achievable.  Focus also improves concentration.  Concentration helps you stay in the current moment to take care of the right now priority.  Multitasking is the enemy of concentration.  You can focus on one area and complete it quickly, write out what else needs to be done, prioritize, and then knock out the rest.  It may look like multitasking, but it isn't. It is concentration that allows you to get more done.

    Focus allows confidence.  Confidence is important because it enables to you accomplish your goals.  Without confidence you spend all your energy on the what if game and go back and forth through different scenarios never accomplishing anything useful.  Self-confidence enables you to be prepared, have winning moments, hold onto positive memories, and focus on the stages of progress instead of perfection.

    The final things that focus does for you is challenge you.  It pushes you to not be stagnant.  You set achievable goals, but that does not mean that the goals keep you in your comfort zone.  You do not avoid the uncomfortable to stay safe.  You set high standards for yourself and you work to make them happen.  This is how you find treasures in your life.  

Proverbs 16:7-9, Philippians 4:4-9, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-4, & James 1:2-4

Joy of Finding Solutions

 

    If you want to discover the joy in finding solutions, you have to stop looking back.  There is value in looking forward and setting goals.  The past is for educational reference, but it can't be changed.  There is no reason to dwell there.  

    The way to find solutions in life is to utilize your emotions as a tool, but not the driver in your life.  It takes skill to properly deal with emotions in a rational way.  It starts with owning your negative emotions.  You have to take responsibility for your thoughts and where they lead you.  

    Next, stop blaming other people for your life not being the way you want it to be.  This leads you to emotional health.  This does not mean that other people did not contribute to the problem.  It just means that you are taking ownership in fixing it.  No matter what people do to you, you are responsible for how you are going to handle and respond to it.

    Then comes acknowledging negative feelings are there.  Some negative feelings can't be ignored.  You have to find a healthy way to deal with them.  That means looking for solutions instead of dwelling on them.  Find a way to starve negative feelings to hold onto your joy.  

    Acknowledge your anger, discouragement, hurt, and irritation, but do not let them consume you.  Look at the big picture and remember what you are working toward.  Ask yourself what your goals are?  What do you want the outcome to be?  What do you envision?  Are the negative emotions going to help you get there?  The point is to put the problem in perspective and find a healthy, joy filling solution.

    Final step to keep the joy in the midst of problems is to temporarily retreat.  Take a minute to collect yourself and get on solid footing with God.  This is not running away from your problems.  This is taking the time you need to handle them in a healthy manner.  It is taking a step back to see it from a different perspective before making it a bigger problem.

Jeremiah 33:1-5, 2 Corinthians 10:13-14, Ephesians 4:31-32, Philippians 4:4-7, & James 1:2-4

Joy of Discovery

 

    Change is scary.  However, if things never changes, then there would be no new discoveries.  Everyone would live status que for better or worse.  You would never meet new people.  You would never ger a new job, house, car, or anything.  You would just exist and that is scarier.

    You can find joy in discovery when you start digging into your relationship with God.  You discover your purpose in this life, where you belong, the right people for this season in life, and hidden gems that helps in life.  When you look to discover something new, then life can slow down.  You start removing things that don't really matter.  You get excited about what could be.

    At the same time, when you discover that you lost something that mattered, trying to find it can be challenging.  Some things you are never able to get back.  Sometimes when you pray, God says no.  You have to trust that it is for the overall good.  It may not feel good.  Disappointment can hurt, but that is where faith grows.  

    Focus on what God is giving you every day.  Let go of the loss.  None of it is an accident.  God's design is far better than any that we can come up on our own.  Let go of the past and you can discover passion in the unknown possibilities.  Don't put God in a box because it only makes your world smaller.  Pray and have faith that He can indeed move mountains, then look for it.

    Life doesn't need to be going through the motions, cynical, negative all the time, apathetic, or mediocre.  Life with God has times of rest, but it is meant to be exciting.  Let go of the business, distractions, and moving nonstop.  Instead pray, meditate, and focus on making what you have purpose.  

    Be the original you that God made you to be.  Find your place in this world, but remember home is in Heaven with Him.  Your place is where you can glorify God the best.  You do have a destiny and it is journeying through life as closely to God as you can.  This is where you invest your time and energy.  You are here to make the world a better place where you are unless you get in your own way.  

Psalm 16:9-11, 34:8-10, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:4-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, & 1 Peter 1:8-9

Joy of Knowing God

 

    You can find joy in knowing God for infinite reasons, but one is that He challenges the way His children think.  He shows you our deficiencies, so you can see how much you need Him.  It is easy to be like everyone else.  It takes faith and work to be different.

    Human nature is strong.  It is something that you need to resist and fight everyday to live a joy filled life.  If you allow the negativity a foothold, then it will consume you.  It will eat away at your joy until it is gone.  

    Joy is a gift from God, so of course the closer you get to Him the more joy you can have.  Unlike the world, God doesn't have strings attached to His gifts.  You accept them or reject them.  It is all up to you.  It is great that you have the free will to choose every day how your day will be.

    When you choose to follow Jesus and live a Spirit filled life, then you choosing to change your human nature to a spiritual nature.  This transforms you in ways that only God can do.  It makes your more alive, passionate, and joyful.  Your past is your past.  It is what you do today that matters.  

    The joy of knowing God is learning to think like God.  He will always be a mystery in certain things, but He gave you the Bible so you can know Him, His clear boundaries, and His love for you.  The more you invest into Him, the more you will start thinking like Him.  You stop and think through things before reacting to life.  Your desire to live for Him become a priority.  

    God is the perfect creator.  He made you to be perfect, but you will never achieve that without Him.  The world has too much of a stronghold on you.  You live a joy filled life and then when you get to your eternal body, you can experience perfection for the first time.  You need God.  He doesn't need you.  He just wants you as His beloved creation.

    Your joy will become strong and true as you mature in your relationship with God.  You can trust that because God never lies to you.  He wants you to have a holy character that is strong and does not fear to really live.  When you do, then you reflect God to the world: true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good.  

Psalm 16:9-11, Jeremiah 9:23-24, John 17:1-5, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Philippians 2:5-8, & 1 Peter 1:3-9

Joy of Being Chosen

 

    You were chosen by God.  He created you because He loves you.  He wants a real relationship with you.  The only reason you would not have one is because you chose to reject Jesus, put distance, or never invested into getting closer to God.

    If you allow your feelings to dictate how you live, then you give them all the control.  They will have your moods and actions unpredictable.  It is a self-defeating way to live.  Your actions will push you further away from what you really want.  Living emotionally creates bad habits that will not let you see that you are chosen.  To be loved is what you need, but how can you ever accept real love when your emotions have you frazzled?

    When you allow logic to control your emotions, then you can see love, grace, and purity for what it really is.  You will be able to produce life fulfilling thoughts that are constructive for good habits.   Your emotions become indicator, but not rulers of your life.  Good moods become more consistent because you know you are loved even if you don't feel it in the moment.

    Emotions strength is directly linked to your moral decisions.  If you push the Bible away, then you invite emotional discord into your life.  Any joy that does not come from God is counterfeit joy.  If you embrace following Jesus by using the Bible and prayer, then you discover true joy.  This joy is produced through the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  

    How you live your life is your choice.  Will it be negative or positive?  Are you wiling to make changes in your life to get what your really want?  Do you really believe that God chose you and loves you?  Take a good look at your life to see which way you are headed today.  What small changes can you make today to have the life you have your heart set on?

John 15:9-17, Romans 15:7-13, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 1:3-8, & 1 Peter 2:9-10

Joy of Personalization

 

You are designed by God personally.  He made you a certain way for a reason.  He gave you your personality.  You were made perfect.  It was sin that corrupted some aspects, but it doesn't change the value of what God made in you.  He made you specifically and for a purpose.  You can take joy in who you are because you are loved so much by your creator.

    You are good at some things and lousy in other areas.  The specialization gift list is shorter than the lousy list, but that is a good thing.  How would you have time for everything if you were good at everything.  Allow other people have to be accredited for what they are good at.  Work together and become stronger and enjoy life better.

    God created people to be relational.  He wants us to work together, encourage each other, and support one another.  If you choose to be a lone wolf, then you are the one missing out and making your life more difficult which steals joy from you.  As long as you are alive, God has a purpose for your life and I guarantee that it involves other people.

    Your purpose in life will use your gifts, talents, abilities, passions, and other people.  Your areas of interest are not a mistake.  What your pursue in life may go down a wrong path, but it was placed on your heart for a reason.  If you discover how God is trying to use all of this, then you will be more energized, youthful, and enjoy life more.  You are talented and gifted.  It is time to use it for God.

    Do not ignore your weaknesses.  Work on them to become stronger.  You can turn some weaknesses into strengths and other you keep from becoming a handicap.  The purpose is so you don't have anything holding you back.  Working on these can make you more relatable to some people.  It will give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction in life.  

    Persevere in your personal growth.  Do not give up on yourself.  You don't know what you can become until you get there.  In time you are likely to enjoy the process of growth because it is significant.  

    You are your gifts, talents, life experiences, personality, weaknesses, and a creation of God.  This should be put together to give you vision for your life.  Do not give up on yourself is finding something that you do for a living that you enjoy.  You spend the majority of your waking hours involved in work.  It is important to find what you are good at, so you can find joy in work.

Psalm 9-11, John 15:9-17, Romans 15:7-13, Philippians 4:1-5, & 1 Peter 1:8-9

Joy of Self-Discipline

 

    Self-discipline is something that you have to work at to direct your thoughts, attitudes, passions, and actions toward joy.  It is when your intentions defeat indulgence, your mind wins over your moods, or the Holy Spirit has more influence than your human desires.  When you have self discipline you take charge of your emotions, so you can have joy.

    If you do not have self-discipline, then you are a slave to to your feelings, moods, and life conditions.  You will never feel like you are on solid ground and it will destroy your joy.  Self-discipline is embracing the uncomfortable moment for the long term benefits.  It id doing what you don't want to do in the moment, so you can have something better in the future.  

    You need self-discipline to workout, raise a Godly family, keep a good attitude at work, balance your diet, be financially stable, and more.  You need it because it overrides unproductive emotions that lead to self-destructive behaviors.  There is a difference between what you can't do and what you won't do.  The won't develop bad habits.

    Self-discipline helps you fight against the right now culture where no one really succeeds by curving your impulsive nature and keeping yourself in check.  You sacrifice a little today for something better tomorrow.  Your feelings don't have to dictate your choices.  You can take a moment to think logically.  Pray for wisdom and guidance before making a move.  This way you can move forward with a clear conscience.  

    Do you want to upgrade your emotional life?  Learn to utilize self-discipline to turn your feelings into something productive.  Focus on God, then your feelings can lead to joy, passion, and satisfaction in life.  It just takes a little time and patience.  Seeking God's plan to follow it will bring enthusiasm and joy into your life because it is the greatest goal to achieve.

    Self-discipline leads to authentic joy.  It helps you fulfill your full potential in life.  You are able to see the defining moments in life more clearly instead of going through the motions.  You have the power to change your life by changing who you are.  It is not comfortable or easy, but the rewards far better in the long run.

    Learning self-discipline will feel unnatural and unrewarding the in the beginning.  Persevere or you will never discover your full potential in life.  Energy will return to you.  You can see the blessings in your life easier.  Your life will be more pleasing to God.  It takes faith to live a consistent life, but it produces the fruit of the Spirit.  

Proverbs 25:27-28, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Timothy 1:5- 7, & 2 Peter 1:5-7