We have a lot to be thankful for, both as Americans and as believers. God has truly blessed us in so many ways. Last week we begin a short message series called “Overcoming the Blues.” With a message entitled “Developing a Thankful Heart.” We learned that a thankful heart is the only proper response to God who has forgiven our sins through Jesus Christ. A thankful heart lays a firm foundation for a life of purpose and joy.
Today, we’re going to expand on those truths with a message called “The Joy Strategy.” It’s so easy to slip out of joy and thanksgiving into complaining and the blues. I believe that God wants to give us a strategy today so that we can stay in joy no matter what comes into our lives. This joy strategy that we’re going to talk about today is very simple. As we’ll see in a few minutes, it’s based on one short verse. But if you memorize that verse and use it the way God wants, it will change your life and attitude. This Sunday, we’re going to be looking at some verses from Psa. 118 for our joy strategy.
Psalm 118:1 (NIV) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
This chapter begins with a command to give thanks to the Lord. It doesn’t say, if you feel good give thanks to the Lord. It doesn’t say, if everything is going well with you, give thanks to the Lord. It simply commands us to give thanks to the Lord. Why should we give thanks to the Lord? Because the Lord is good and his love never ends. No matter what has happened to you in the past, no matter what is happening to you right now, no matter what you are concerned about in the future, the Lord is good and his love for you endures forever. You can give thanks to him this morning.
Now, let’s begin to talk about this joy strategy. Joy is an emotion and as such many people feel that they can’t control their emotions. So, one day you wake up and feel great, the next day you feel lousy. Which day are you going to be more productive? The day you feel great and full of joy. If you feel lousy or blue, you really don’t feel like doing much or have much energy. So your emotions influence your actions. So what influences your emotions? The answer is your thoughts, what you think about and say to yourself in your mind.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
What kind of thoughts does God’s Word tell us to think about? Everything in this verse is positive, uplifting and encouraging. If your mind was focused on those things, things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, what would your attitude be like? I think you would have a thankful and joyful attitude. So the battle to overcome the blues is fought in your mind and in your thoughts. If you win the battle, then your emotions will be uplifted and your actions will honor God as well.
A couple of months ago, I was feeling a little blue one day. I don’t remember all the details, but there was a lot to do, some stressful things to attend to, seemed like more things to do then hours in the day. As I was praying, an old song popped into my mind. It went like this:
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.
The song was taken from
Psalm 118:24 (NIV) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
As I continued to meditate on that verse, God opened my mind to 3 truths that are the basis for the joy strategy we’re going to talk about today.
Listen to or watch my November 27, 2011 message The Joy Strategy.