Our goal as Christians is to live a transformed life
Romans 12:1-2 – 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Our joy should not be dependent upon others.
“Are we stealing their joy with our grumbling and complaining?”
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Friends make life more fun.
Dealing with the past
Proverbs 17:22, A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Dealing with conflict.
Romans 12:18, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
There is nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for His fatherly care.
Our sufficiency comes from a confidence in Christ’s sufficiency.
Celebrate Jesus!
ENCOURAGEMENT
God Encourages Us
Romans 15:5 – May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 6:18 – God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
We encourage others by praying for them —
Philippians 1:3-5 – 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
We encourage others through the words we speak.
Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
BE AN ENCOURAGER AT ANY COST!
Luke 10:27 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.
GODLY JOY endures into eternity!
