What is joyful? It is true happiness coming from deep within. Satan doesn’t like joy, he wants people
to be depressed, frustrated, hateful, and the list goes on. Robbing us of our joy that is found in the gospel is how evil grows. Even when we have been wronged, actually or misconstrued, Satan digs it deeper within us making us believe that we cannot be joyful because we have been wronged. And, now we come to forgiveness as a part of joy. Forgiveness is NOT for the person, it is for us. Forgiveness allows us to find our joy.
What is the best way to find joy? That’s something that you will have to find yourself, but I do know that steps to joy are found in the gospel. There are just two simple things that we need to do to take the first steps toward joy.
First step, read your scriptures. I don’t care how long you do it, just do it. Read a chapter. Read a verse. Read for 30 minutes. Read for 5 minutes. You decide what is best for you.
Second step, pray. I don’t care how long you do it, just do it. Pray for one minute. Pray for five minutes. Pray once a day, in the morning. Pray once a day, in the evening. Pray twice a day, morning and evening. You decide what is best for you.
Third step. Just do it!!
I know this sounds way too easy, but these two steps a day will put you on the road to joy. All of the heavy lifting things will come later, but the foundation has to be built before you can start building. So, set aside that time right now for both prayer and reading scripture.
Ooh, this is the day that the Lord has made
Ooh, and I ain’t gon’ let it slip away
There is a song that you could listen to at least once a day, just to get yourself started! Joyful. We need to bring joy back into our lives, and not let anyone take that joy from us.
Carolyn Bendall 