Do you spend time in places that lack any life or joy? Maybe you have entered a room and actually felt a spirit of death or boredom. I want to encourage you: the living God is inside you! You have the opportunity to release the contagious joy of God with you everywhere you go.
The contagious joy of Jesus
Years ago, I was in the university library writing a paper on a Friday night. My attitude was really poor as I walked inside, noticing it was basically empty. At that moment, I had the choice. I could pout about what I had to do or find the opportunity of joy in front of me. As I worked, I started blasting worship music in my earbuds and just focused on God. After a few minutes, I found my groove in the workflow and all the feelings of frustration left. Worship replaced my poor attitude and to my surprise, I felt so filled with the contagious joy of God I couldn’t stop beaming. I felt ridiculous, until spotting a classmate nearby who seemed troubled. He walked by, and I knew he needed to experience God like I was right then.
As we spoke, I could feel the life of God bubbling up between us. He shared with my his feelings of worthlessness and how he could sense so much peace and joy inside of me. This friend was in desperate need of a substance to sustain him, and I got to share with Him how God sustained me that very same hour! Neither of us left the library the same that night.
God’s hand is upon you in the same way it was on us. As believers, we have a choice. We get to choose to be strengthened by the contagious joy of Jesus that transforms everything.
“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
