Joy In Your Heart and On Your Face

Last week I talked about meditating on the things of God so that we can grow closer to Him. Today I want to talk about one of the results of that kind of meditation – JOY.

When I was a little girl we sang this song:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart;
Down in my heart, down in my heart.
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart;
Down in my heart to stay.

It always made me happy to sing that song and I think now as an adult I probably need to sing that song first thing every morning so that my outward appearance will reflect that joy on my face.

How many times do we catch ourselves frowning and don’t even realize it?

I once heard John Maxwell tell this story about a lady who went shopping with her little girl. The woman was frustrated because of all the crowds and said to her little girl,  “did you see that dirty look that salesman gave me?” The very honest little girl replied, “oh mother, he didn’t give you that look. You had that look when we went in there.!” Funny as that is (especially to hear John Maxwell tell it) it is often too true.

We talk about the joy of being a Christian and yet we walk around with faces that show no joy. I am guilty of this and so today I want to challenge myself as well as you who might be reading this to be aware of the look on our faces today. Let’s exude peace, joy and kindness when we meet others.  As Millie Stamm said, “The joy of the Lord in our hearts is not to be bottled up but is to overflow into our lives so that others may be blessed.”

David penned these words in Psalm 16:

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Have a JOY-Full day!