The struggle for joy and gratitude is universal. All people wrestle with maintaining a mindset of positivity. Sometimes it is more challenging to be grateful during difficult seasons. The Bible tells us numerous times in scripture to reside in a state of joy:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4)
Rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy… (Gal. 5:22)
If scripture commands it, then why is this such a long, hard-fought battle? We were made for more. We were created with a Heavenly longing wired inside of each and every one of us. Something will always be missing on this side of Heaven. But for those of us in Christ Jesus, we have hope. We have the Spirit of the Living God inside of us! We have keys to the Kingdom and access to the throne of grace through prayer.
Even so, it is easy to lose sight. We must fix our eyes on Christ, remaining in God’s Word and prayer each day to be reminded of the goodness of God. We must refuse to complain and instead look at our circumstances optimistically and praise the Lord. When we make the cognizant decision not to complain, we proclaim Christ’s Holy name. When we choose praise and prayer over contempt, we are not exempt from God’s grace.
Only Jesus can grow gratitude in our hearts. There are ways we can water our joy, but ultimately, God grows every pure and perfect gift.
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:7
Joy and gratitude do not come naturally. There are practices we can do to fertilize joy in our lives. The following are ways to plant feelings of appreciation and water a sense of gratitude in our hearts:
Read the Bible.
Pray.
Record blessings.
Write down the goals you achieved the previous day.
Write down self-care goals for the day.
Jot down self-affirmations. (These can be scripturally based, derived from quotes, things you like about yourself, or positive traits others see in you.)
Journal and include what went well that day.
Journal prayers, praises, and prayer requests to God. Look back and see his faithfulness in your life.
Memorize scripture.
Spend time in nature.
Go on a gratitude walk. (Listen to praise and worship music. Dwell on your blessings. Pray and thank God for things you are thankful for.)
Pick out a few of these ideas that you can commit to daily! The key is consistency. Commit your heart to knowing and living for Jesus, looking at life through a lens of joy. Saturate your soul in satisfaction by drawing near to the throne of God’s grace. Rely on Jesus to grow good things inside of you. Be willing to partner with the Holy Spirit and pick up the watering can to help joy thrive.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you that you are the Grower of every good thing in my life. I pray that joy and feelings of regard would come alive in me. Holy Spirit, help me to be mindful of my blessings. I pray that I would do my part to cultivate the Fruit of Your Spirit—joy. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray, amen.
About the Author:
Alexandra Jensen is a Steering Team Leader for the MomCo. Organization. Alexandra and her husband attend Battlecreek Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Alexandra has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Creative Writing, and a Master’s degree in Math and Science Education. She is a former Elementary school teacher. Alexandra is a wife, a stay-at-home mother of three, and an antiques dealer.
Connect with Alexandra:
https://www.facebook.com/Authoralexandrajensen
https://www.instagram.com/authoralexandrajensen/
