What’s one of your all-time favorite and joyful memories in life?

We all have at least one memory of being filled with so much joy! Maybe it was your first bicycle ride. Maybe when your baby brother came into your world. Maybe when you graduated from high school, or when you got married! Or maybe you had such great joy when you first asked Jesus to forgive you!

But maybe somewhere along the line, life stressed you out. The hurts and disappointments of life stole your joy. You feel empty, like you are on auto-pilot. Now you live to exist just one more day.

So where did my joy disappear to? And how do I get it back?

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” Psalms 51:12-13 NKJV

Here’s four clear pathways to joy found in this verse:

Clean heart– Ask God for His forgiveness again, and for the joy of your salvation. Remember where you came from, and how much He has forgiven you.

Filled with Spirit– Tell the Spirit of your desperate need for His presence and guidance in your life. Depend upon Him totally…everyday. Return to your first love!

Teach others– Get your eyes off yourself, and start helping others in need. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. It’s in the giving that we receive.

Sinners saved– Ask God to lead you to one person each day with whom you can share your faith. If you share with enough, eventually you will find those who want to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And you can pray with them to do so!

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Not social media. Not friends. Not money. Not more free time. Find your real inner joy again… in Christ!