Joy, Part V

To be positive minded, constantly affirming positive thoughts, seems like some idea you would hear in a self help book about the psyche. Yet, positive affirmation is not a new idea. In fact, the idea comes from the Bible. I remember seeing a T.V. documentary on The Secret and it was actually amusing to see non-christians using a technique created by God (straight out of the Bible). They acted as if it was some secret thing that had never been heard of before... something totally new.

Yet, when you delve into it, you see the simple principles of faith that Jesus preached during His own ministry. All they did was take Christ out and called it something "new". At least they were honest when they claimed the secret had been in use for 2,000 years. They don't tell anyone that Jesus was the one who came up with it. Joy in the Lord is so essential for Christians because joy is spawned from our hope and faith in what God has promised us (not only in this life, but the one to come).

The life of joy is also a life of gratitude and contentment.

^{Ecclesiastes 8:15}

¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.