Introduction

• Galatians 5:22
• Philippians 2:29
• James 1:2-4
• We can develop joy. We can work on this!

There will always be negatives in your life, so focus on the positive.

• Genesis 3:14-19
• We don’t live in the Garden of Eden. There will be problems in our lives.
• Hebrews 11:16
• There will be negatives until we get to Heaven.
• Philippians 4:4
• Joy is not the absence of negatives.
• Philippians 3:1
• Exodus 16:2-3
• Exodus 20:2
• Ezra 3:10-13 – Two different reactions to the same event!
• Haggai 2:8-9
• Ezra 6:15-16
• If you tend to lack joy, make a change!

It’s not wrong to be ambitious, but remember to be thankful.

• Philippians 4:10-11 – Paul learned to be content.
• I Thessalonians 5:14-18
• The devil can trap us into thinking joy is always coming tomorrow. Be thankful today!
• Try gratitude journaling!

We’ll enjoy some temporary pleasures, but spiritual blessings are the endless spring of joy.

• I Peter 3:9
• Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:1, 10-11, 18
• Isaiah 29:13
• You can grow joy in your life!