The Cure for Joylessness

How's your joy? Are you a little less than joyfull these days? Do you have a deep, sense of contentment that makes you smile at life, even when there's really nothing to smile about?

If not, why not?

Well, after reading my Bible this afternoon, I figured out what might happen to my joy on occasion, and surprisingly enough, it has nothing to do with anyone or anything else around me. It's a burden of my own making - unconfessed sin. Ps. 32 says, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit." In other words, the man (or woman) who is "confessed up" is a "blessed" man or "joyful" man.

I think our joyfulness all goes back to a realization of Who God is and what He has done for us. When we confess our sins before Him, we are in essence recognizing His authority over our lives, our completeness in Him, our helplessness to be holy without Him...and the list goes on and on. When we get that...when we REALLY get that...we can't help but be joyful!

So, let's try this out. Let's beg God to show us our sin - the behaviors that aren't righteousness behaviors - the words we speak that aren't pleasing - the attitudes of our hearts that are less than holy. Then, when He does, let's really deal with them. Let's be sure not to pretend that those things "aren't that bad," and slap some sugar icing over poison. Instead, let's confess those things to Him. Tell Him we know that they are sin and are straining our relationship with Him. Then, let's repent from them - turn from those behaviors, and see what happens to our joylessness!!!

Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ and for myself - that we would really get this JOY thing. You've called us to be a joyful people, now help us be what you've asked by showing us our sin. Then, Lord, give us strength to confess and repent, running to You for forgiveness. Thank You, Lord, that You will honor this request. Praise You, Jesus. Praise You.