What is the secret to a joy-filled life?  Does such a thing even exist?  Since the beginning of time, mankind has searched just about everywhere in hopes of finding out this secret.  Have you ever considered that our heavenly Father branded joy onto the very fiber of our being?  Joy is within us, but it must be released.

As humans, we search for joy in all the wrong places.  And what we receive is just a sporadic sampling, a fraction of the real deal, a clever counterfeit to genuine joy.  We search everywhere but within.

Living with joy is our birthright and it is God’s intention for all his children.  “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).

As children of God, we are rightful heirs to the blessing of overflowing joy.  As a result, we have a calling, a responsibility to express and demonstrate joy by the way we live.  Being joy filled does not mean that our life is perfect.  It doesn’t even mean that our life is great.  What it does mean is that we emphatically trust God and believe that he has great plans for our life, regardless of what is happening right now.

Joy is a deeply entrenched, unshakable belief, the result of sustained right thinking and dwelling on the nature and character of God.  So, how do we cultivate it?

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  (Philippians 4:8, KJV)

Look at Philippians 4:8 and take up the command to seek out and dwell on the positives in our lives.  Paul has essentially given us a master “to-think” list, illuminating the types of thoughts we should have if we want to produce a joy-filled life.