Here we are in week two of our “fruit of the spirit” journey where we will explore the profound healing power of joy.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
When I take my dog for early morning walks, I choose to walk our neighborhood trail that leads to Hero’s Park. I love walking this trail; it sets the tone for my day as I connect with God and enjoy the privilege of greeting people in my community. Along my journey I will often pass a group of laborers preparing for their day of work. They always appear surprised when I greet them with a hello and good morning, but they faithfully return the favor, smile and respond. But my favorite moment is yet to come. I consider myself blessed to greet a man who calls Hero’s Park his home. As he prepares for the day I witness his morning ritual and marvel at his joyful demeanor. If I was homeless and called the baseball dugout my home, would I be filled with joy? Each time I greet him good morning, I anticipate his response with joy for I recognize that my friendly greeting may be the only one he receives that day.
What can you do on your daily journey that will bring joy to another? Take the JOY challenge and become a JOY generator. Greet random strangers, introduce yourself to neighbors you’ve never met, or say hello to someone new at work. Soon you will find your life overflowing with joy. Here are a few more ideas to get you started:
- Start your day by telling God what you are grateful for
- Call someone you have lost touch with to say hello
- Write to a distant relative or friend
- Make an extra portion of a healthy meal and give it to someone who is not expecting it
- Sing your favorite worship song in the shower
- When you see a rose, stop and smell it
- Close your eyes, take a deep breath and know that you are loved by the Creator of the universe!
Got more to add to our list? We would love to hear from you. Write us with your ideas:[email protected]
Encourage someone! Encouragement is a powerful relational art form.
When you encourage another person, you bring joy into each other’s lives.
Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength
Nehemiah 8:10
