Have you ever felt as if you have lost your joy?
You are always bombarded with one problem after the other.
It seems as if when one problem knocked you down and as you are tryng to get back on your feet another one hit you back on your knees again.
Your emotions are always on edge constantly expecting another trouble to rise up against you.
Do you find yourself falling back into sinful habits that God had delivered you from?
The battle between the flesh and spirit is raging and most times your flesh dominates.
Eventually, it seems as if you have lost the ability to smile and you are always sad even when you see God working on your behalf.
If you are in this situation then you have lost your joy.
The devil’s main purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.
Before Satan tries to kill you he will steal your joy and before he tries to destroy you, he will kill your spirit.
Thus, the enemy is relentless in his attack against God’s people.
Satan wants to ensure that you always remain destitute and downtrodden.
The enemy enjoys looking at your long gloomy and unhappy face because he knows your spirit will eventually die when you lost your joy.
So how can you regain your joy?
1. Examine the reasons why you lost your joy.
If you lost your joy because of hidden sins in your life read Psalms 51 prayerfully.
David lost his joy due to hidden sins, but when he was confronted with his sins he immediately cry out to God saying:
“Have mercy upon me, Lord…
Blot out my transgressions…
Wash me thouroughly from my iniquities…
Cleanse me from my sins…
Purge me with hyssop…
Hide your face from my sins…
Blot out all my iniguities…
Deliver me from blood guiltyness O’ God…”
Acknowledge your sins and recognize that you have sinned against God and only He can save you.
Then, ask the Lord to make you hear joy and gladness. Did you catch that?
You want the Lord to reveal to you the sounds of rejoicing in heaven so that your spirit will be revived.
After forgiveness and healing you will need restoration.
Therefore, Ask the Lord to:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:10-12)
Your next step after restoration is to testify of the redemptive power of God in your life to help strengthen those who are going through similar situations.
Sing, shout and praise the Lord for His mercies towards you.
2. If you have lost your joy due to trials and persecutions your first step is to recognize that as a child of God you will always be under attack by the enemy.
The world/Satan hates you because you belong to God.
Secondly, you have to make a concerted effort to count it all joy when you fall into various temptations/trials knowing that the trying of your faith produces patience. (James 1:1-3).
In other words, there is good in the midst of your troubles.
Remain in the presence of God and ask Him for His right Hand.
Finally, when trouble knocks you off your feet, just remain on your knees because God wants you to pray without ceasing.
Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away (Isaiah 51:11)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
Share with us your strategy to take back your stolen joy.
Additional references: Psalms 16:11; John 10:10
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