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How to Lose Your Joy
Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 02/17/2017 6:24:22 AM PST by metmom

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11).

Discontent and ingratitude will steal your joy.

True joy is God's gift to every believer, yet many Christians seem to lack it. How can that be? Did God fail them? No. As with peace, assurance, and other benefits of salvation, joy can be forfeited for many reasons: willful sin, prayerlessness, fear, self-centeredness, focusing on circumstances, and lack of forgiveness are the main culprits.

Two of the most common joy-thieves are dissatisfaction and ingratitude. Both are by-products of the health, wealth, and prosperity mentality of our day. It has produced a generation of Christians who are more dissatisfied than ever because their demands and expectations are higher than ever. They've lost their perspective on God's sovereignty and have therefore lost the ability to give thanks in all things.

In marked contrast, when Jesus taught about contentment and anxiety (Matt. 6:25-34), He spoke of food and clothing—the basic necessities of life. But preferences, not necessities, are the issue with us. We're into style, personal appearance, job satisfaction, earning power, bigger homes, and newer cars. In the name of greater faith we even demand that God supply more miracles, more wealth, and more power.

Amid all that, Paul's words sound a refreshing note of assurance and rebuke: "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11). He made no demands on God but simply trusted in His gracious provision. Whether he received little or much made no difference to him. In either case he was satisfied and thankful.

Don't be victimized by the spirit of our age. See God's blessings for what they are and continually praise Him for His goodness. In doing so you will guard your heart from dissatisfaction and ingratitude. More important, you will bring joy to the One who is worthy of all praise.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that the Holy Spirit will produce in you a joy and contentment that transcends your circumstances. Make it a daily practice to thank God for specific blessings and trials, knowing that He uses both to perfect His will in you. For Further Study

Read 1 Kings 18:1—19:8.

How did Elijah deal with the false prophets of Baal? How did he deal with Jezebel's threat? What caused Elijah's shift from a spiritual high to a spiritual low?


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

1 posted on 02/17/2017 6:24:22 AM PST by metmom
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To: Alex Murphy; bkaycee; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; dragonblustar; Dutchboy88; ealgeone; ...

Studying God’s Word ping


2 posted on 02/17/2017 6:24:48 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

Why are your postings on the news forum and not the religious one?


3 posted on 02/17/2017 6:29:53 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Dr. Ursus

This is the RF.

Look at the top of this page.

The RF is the only one that has the categories I use to post threads. I can tell right way if I hit the wrong forum by accident.


4 posted on 02/17/2017 6:33:05 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

Okay,I ‘ve never been on the RF. I only go on news/ articles. Sorry,have a nice weekend.


5 posted on 02/17/2017 6:55:24 AM PST by Dr. Ursus
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To: Dr. Ursus

That’s OK.

Interestingly I just noticed that there was a vanity posted about all the Catholic threads showing up on the News/Activism forum.

Something must be squirrely with FR.

No harm done so don’t worry about it.


6 posted on 02/17/2017 6:57:57 AM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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