If you feel like your joy bucket level is set on low, it is good to remember that in God’s presence is where we find more of the joy of the Lord. Our joy level is a pretty obvious gauge of how much time we are spending in God’s presence. That may sound harsh, but if our joy is depleted, the best place for our joy to be renewed is worshipping God, being renewed in the Word and spending time in His presence. If your joy bucket is empty and you are grumpy and frustrated, take some time to do all of those things. If a joyful attitude is natural for you and you wake up happy, and stay joyful all throughout the day, your joy can rub off on people around you. If that is not you, and you are more like my husband, who needs a morning warm up and some happy juice, choosing joy can be a real testimony to the power of the Word dwelling inside of you, even when you naturally don’t feel like it. We can find real joy and contentment in Christ, and by hanging around with people who have experienced the joy of the Lord. Our desire should be to only want more of God and His presence, because we know that in His presence is fullness of joy. I want all the joy that God has for me. I know where I can find it. I want all the joy that God has for you. We find it in the presence of God, that’s where your joy cup can be full and overflowing.
Here is Psalms 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.