Joyful June: How to Set Up Your Life for Joy
As I study joy in this season, I’ve come to understand that joy doesn’t just happen; it’s something we must cultivate. Think of joy like a plant: if you have a seed and are intentional about planting and nurturing it, eventually, it will grow into something beautiful, like a mighty oak tree from an acorn or a maize plant from a corn seed. However, if that acorn is never planted, it will remain just an acorn, never realizing its potential to become an oak tree. Similarly, in this season of joy, we need to be intentional about cultivating joy in our lives.
From Genesis to Revelation, the tree God wants us to cultivate is joy. Yet, many of us have taken the seed of joy and failed to plant it intentionally, resulting in lives that don’t yield the fruit of joy. In Galatians 5:22, the Bible talks about the fruits of the Spirit, and joy is one of them. Just as an acorn is meant to produce an oak tree, we, as children of God, are meant to cultivate a life of joy.
So, how do we take that seed of joy and find the perfect soil, tools, and setup to create a garden that blossoms with joy? Imagine a typical forest, where trees grow without intentional planting. Now, contrast that with a meticulously created garden, featuring a beautiful landscape, carnations, tulips, and a fountain, etc. That garden is a picture of joy because someone intentionally cultivated it. When people come around us, do they feel like they’ve entered a barren land, or do they feel like they’re in a beautiful, welcoming garden? A bubbly person is not necessarily joyful; their soul might be broken or lean. That’s why we often hear of celebrities committing suicide despite appearing happy on the outside.
The Bible is the center of joy. Romans 15:13 reminds us that God wants us to live a life of joy. God wakes us up with the expectation that we will be joyful and productive. Our default expectation should be joy.
Here are some key scriptures to help us set up our lives for joy:
-Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
-John 16:24: Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
-Romans 14:17: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
-John 15:11: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
– Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
– Psalm 118:24: The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
– Psalm 4:7: You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
– Hebrews 12:2: Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
There’s a psychologist who says the brain is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones. We have to force our brain to focus on the positive, choosing to rejoice and thank God in every circumstance. We will never have a joyful life if we expect it to just fall into our laps. We need to cultivate it.
So, how are you going to transform your life with this conversation today and make this June and beyond joyful? What are you going to start doing intentionally to set up your life for joy? Remember, God is meticulous in His plans and doesn’t make mistakes. Let’s be intentional about cultivating joy, and our lives will become beautiful gardens that bring joy to ourselves and those around us.