How’s Your Joy Quotient?

Long days and short nights, that best describes our last week on the road. We left Michigan on Sunday afternoon heading to Edmonton Alberta for our next event. I knew going in it would be one of the harder legs on our 7 week trip, simply because of the number of miles we had to drive each day and the need to be at the next location by Wednesday at the latest.

We would hit traffic and road construction within the first hour and drive through that environment for the next 6 hours. It included all of the normal trappings of zippy drivers, people with attitude and the standard cut throat driving tactics you find in any major thoroughfare. Add a few problems with your equipment and It’s enough to drive anyone over the edge.

I knew this would be the case and prepared myself mentally. I was going to enjoy the drive regardless. I had never spent much time in Wisconsin and had never been in Minnesota, North Dakota or the provinces of Saskatchewan or Alberta. While we would not get to stop and see any attractions, I wanted to take in the view as I drove…and that’s exactly what we did. The majesty of the open road couple with gorgeous landscape is a sight to behold.

It’s easy to have joy when life is simple. It’s during difficult times when your relationship with our Lord will shine through. I lean heavily on Him and draw my strength from our Lord in those times, He is my refuge. I have found my attitude defines my altitude in life. Through my relationship with the Lord, I can lay the cares of this world at His feet and enjoy life.

Blessings

How’s Your Joy Quotient?
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh 8:10).

One of the overriding evidences that someone has a genuine relationship with our living Savior is their consistent attitude of joy and outlook on life. A follower of Jesus should not be a person who always looks at life as if the glass is half empty. Instead, we should be the most positive people on earth. We should see opportunity in the midst of challenges.

The light that resides in you should be like the beam of a lighthouse to a ship that is seeking direction. Our lives should have the fragrance of Christ. People should be attracted to our lives just as the bee is attracted to the nectar in the colorful flower.

The apostle Paul understood this when he said, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life” (2 Cor 2:14-16).

I must admit I’ve been with some believers whose attitude toward life is more like a porcupine. It’s painful to get too close to them because of their negative and poisonous view of life that criticizes the world around them.

No matter what circumstance you may find yourself in, the joy of the Lord must be your strength. Paul learned this truth even in the midst of his adversities. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:12-13).

How would others describe your joy quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10, where would they rank you? Today, make a commitment to greet every circumstance knowing that the joy of the Lord is your strength.