Mid-Week Message - Ask for Joy!

I was approached by a young believer this week and was asked several questions about life.  One of the things this person said was that he woke up every morning trying to find a reason to get out of bed.  He wanted life to have meaning.  I think this is something we all face from time to time.  My answer to him was simple.  Would Jesus wish us to have lackluster or mediocre lives?  Would He want us to struggle to find a reason to get out of bed every day?

John 10:10 (KJV) says this in the second part of the verse, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  Read that again.  He came that we might have life.  Not a boring, humdrum life of trying to find meaning, but that we can have life that is abundant.  To me this means that He wants us to have full, joyful, enjoyable lives.  And meaning?  What greater meaning is there than that we were created by the Almighty because He desired us?  He created us to love us!

So, how do we have that life?  I am convinced that the main ingredient of an abundant life is joy. That three little word carries such weight.  Without joy, life can seem empty.  Without joy, it is difficult to have hope and without hope, we lose our reason for continuing on in life.  Joy doesn't mean that we laugh through everything in life.  It means that there is a warmth in our heart that keeps it alive, that keeps it moving forward.  We can find reasons to praise even if things are difficult.  

How is your supply of joy?  When I told my young friend to pray for joy, his response was that he didn't want to bother God with his petty requests.  My friends, our Lord delights in us!  He loves when we come to Him with our requests, when we ask in accordance with His will.  Joy is a part of that abundant life Jesus died to give us.  What a wonderful thing to ask Him for.  I can just see Him smiling and hear Him saying, "Ah!  Finally!"   

Ask Him for joy this week, even if you feel you already have it.  Abundant means "more".  We can always stand more joy in our lives.  My God bless your week.