Dear Friends!

If you and I were in a Bible study together, and someone asked, “Why did Jesus come to earth?” what do you think people would say?

I imagine the first answer would be: Jesus came to die for our sins! And that’s true — He did! Jesus paid the price for our sins and conquered the grave so we can have eternity with Him.

But Jesus didn’t stop there. There’s another reason that might surprise you. Jesus also came so that . . . You (yes, you!) can experience joy every single day of your life.

John 10:10 (AMPC) has been one of my favourite scriptures for many years. It says:

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).“ This promise clearly shows us that God wants us to enjoy our lives — in abundance, to the full, until we’re overflowing with joy.

But too many times, we’re not living in the fullness of that promise. Life can get stressful, and in times of uncertainty, it’s easy to lose our joy.

It’s happened to me before. I’m guessing this has happened to you too. Busy schedules, negative people, a bad diagnosis, troubling headlines — these things are joy-stealers. They can leave us feeling worried, stressed, and afraid. But no matter what situation you’re dealing with, no matter what others are saying, no matter how you feel on a particular day . . . You can choose to enjoy every single day of your life. That choice begins with the thoughts we think — deciding to focus our minds on God’s promises rather than our problems. When a struggle or challenge tries to steal your joy, you can choose to change your mindset and trust that God is in control. Remember, it’s YOUR choice! No one else’s.

The apostle Paul says in Colossians 3:2, Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things (NIV). In your daily life, that means . . .

When you feel unloved or unappreciated, you can set your mind on the truth that God loves you unconditionally (Jeremiah 31:3).

When it looks like there is no way forward, you can set your mind on the promise that God will make a way when there seems to be no way (Isaiah 43:19).

When you begin to wonder if you’ll ever overcome what you’ve been through in the past, you can set your mind on the truth that God will restore everything you’ve lost (Isaiah 61:7).

Wrong mindsets keep us upset and frustrated in life. But these right thoughts — these Godly mindsets — are the key to living the life Jesus came to give us.

I remember when God helped me to see that it’s His will for me to enjoy my life. I had lived with the wrong mindsets for many years of my life, but as I studied the Word of God, He showed me that I could make a change — I could reset my thoughts. I could choose joy.

This was a life-changing revelation for me. As I learned to have a Godly mindset, my relationships improved, my outlook on life changed, and I was filled with peace and joy. Now, when I face a challenge or struggle, it doesn’t totally ruin my day, and it doesn’t steal my joy. Having a Godly mindset allows me to cast my care on God and trust that He will make a way. It’s really the best way to live! And it’s the life you can live every day.

I think it’s important to point out that joy is more than “happiness”. Happiness is temporary and dependent on our circumstances. Joy is a gift from God regardless of our circumstances. It seems today that most people believe they have to wait for their circumstances to change before they can enjoy life. But the truth is . . . You can make the decision to enjoy your life and make it extraordinary, regardless of your circumstances.

The abundant life God offers goes deeper than how we feel about what is going on around us. It’s an amazing thing when we learn how to have the peace and joy that only God can give in every area of our lives, instead of happiness that’s just based on temporary feelings. Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) says, . . . The joy of the Lord is your strength.

The joy of the Lord is something much greater than simply feeling happy once in a while. His joy brings contentment to your soul, even when circumstances are difficult and don’t make any sense.

When you learn how your thoughts affect your attitude and contentment — how to set your mind on God’s promises no matter what the circumstance — joy is the natural, God-given result. Remember, you don’t have to go through life each day stuck in frustration, worry, stress, or fear. Jesus came that you may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

The choice is up to you. When you learn to choose the right mindset, there is no limit to what God will do in your life!

Identify a stressful situation or a “robber of joy” in your everyday life today and consciously decide to focus your thoughts on a suitable promise from God instead. What do you want to start with?