How's your joy quotient

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10).

One of the overriding evidences that someone has a genuine relationship with our living Savior is their consistent attitude of joy and outlook on life. A follower of Jesus should not be a person who always looks at life as if the glass is half empty. Instead, we should be the most positive people on earth. We should see opportunity in the midst of challenges.

The light that resides in you should be like the beam of a lighthouse to a ship that is seeking direction. Our lives should have the fragrance of Christ. People should be attracted to our lives just as the bee is attracted to the nectar in the colorful flower.

The apostle Paul understood this when he said, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life" (2 Cor 2:14-16).

I must admit I’ve been with some believers whose attitude toward life is more like a porcupine. It’s painful to get too close to them because of their negative and poisonous view of life that criticizes the world around them.

No matter what circumstance you may find yourself in, the joy of the Lord must be your strength. Paul learned this truth even in the midst of his adversities. "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:12-13).

How would others describe your joy quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10, where would they rank you? Today, make a commitment to greet every circumstance knowing that the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Thanks rl69 , nothing but truth . We have to put on the armor of GOD every day . We have to realize the fallen world around us and try to encourage while holding up our own faith in GOD

My joy quotient peaks sharply between 10:30 and 12:00 Every Sunday morning. And I have smaller spikes every day during the week.

Your glass is always full. Sometimes with water, sometimes with air. Just sayin'.

Amen all to pieces, RL!!! People who think being a Christian is a burden on them are still in their infancy in it, and most likely by choice and because they don't "study to show thyself approved." I really feel for them. Self-denial is a burden to many, these days, what with all the permissiveness and outright encouragement to be deviant from good Christian principles, but it's really all designed so that we CAN be "happy." And that's the simple Truth of it. I've been a slow learner in my time, but I'm not willful enough to accept the false doctrines of the world over the sage advice we've received from our Redeemer.

Take a little test. Think about the very best examples of Christianity in its fullness that you know now, or have known in your life, and see if they didn't consistently seem to be some of the happiest and most satisfied people you've ever really known. By "happy," I don't mean that they went around laughing like a hyena all the time, but always just seemed calm, self-assured and satisfied with whatever they had at the time, and simply grateful for whatever they had. The better word is probably "fully satisfied" rather than "happy." Today, we've perverted even the words we use to communicate with! If that's not an indication of how pervasive evil has come to be all around us, what could be?

If a person doesn't seem satisfied, and at ease, they probably need work on their faith. That covers a lot of ground, and certainly includes me sometimes. Hope you're faring better?