Joy…it can be an attitude, a destination, a journey, or an emotion.  Do we find joy, or do only some of us get to experience it when joy finds us?

Some of YOUR most joyful moments might include:

• Your first kiss
• Catching a big fish
• Your wedding day
• The birth of a child
• Winning the lottery
• A memorable family vacation

These are all great things.  But they are merely experiences.  What you and I need is a constant state of being that is saturated and energized by JOY.

“…the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”   – Matthew 2:9-10

So, what was the star to these wise men?  It was simply evidence of Jesus.  And that led them to experiencing ‘great joy’ when they saw it.  You and I can learn something from the wise men in this passage.  Real joy is attainable if we just look and notice Jesus in our lives.  I’m not talking about on Sundays and in the 10 minutes of our devotional time each morning.  But really making an effort to notice his presence in every moment of every day.

Here are 3 ways to find JOY in your day:

1.  Ask for it | Yep…pray!  Be on it like a dog on his bone.  Plead with God every day to let you experience joy to the fullest.  Believe it or not, God really does want you to have joy in this life.
2. Expose yourself to it | Get creative here.  Read books on joy and happiness.  Listen to podcasts that are encouraging.  Follow people on Twitter and Instagram who constantly exhibit a joyful attitude and faith walk.  And hey…hang out with happy people, and limit your exposure to those who are always negative.
3. Plan for it | Journal.  Write a letter to yourself describing the joy you long for in your life.  Talk to a friend or get a mentor/life coach.  Ask them to guide you and offer constructive accountability.

Take a moment to watch this music video by Rend Collective.  Let the lyrics marinade with your thoughts about true JOY.  And may you truly have joy in your life this week.