Are you a joyful Christian?

I asked myself that today. A couple of days ago I ran across a quote by Abraham Lincoln, who said “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

I know that joy and happiness are not the same. I have always had the idea that it was better to choose to be happy. I probably got that attitude from my parents as I was growing up, so I am thankful for that.

Happiness is a choice, so it is something that comes from within. It is a decision to look at the bright side of things and not focus on the negative.

Joy, on the other-hand is something that is bestowed on us from God. It is understanding that God loves us, has created us to be His children. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, the joy will come through. We all know that joy can be present even in the hardest of times. We can be in the midst of sorrow and yet joy can be present. Not true with happiness. Happiness and sorrow do not mix.

The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks “What is the chief end of man?” The answer given is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. C. S. Lewis in the “Joyful Christian” said that these are actually one and the same. To glorify God is to enjoy Him. To enjoy Him is to glorify Him. You can’t do one without accomplishing the other.

So, our often feeble attempts to enjoy God are done when we worship Him. Worship is not just what we do on Sunday. Worship is a constant expression of our love for Him, another word for prayer when we praise God.

This Thanksgiving, I thank God that He gives me joy. I pray that I will enjoy Him more each and every day.

Always praying for the glory of God,