Hello beautiful people. What triggers joy within you? Is it finally getting what you have been longing for? Or being served your favourite meal? Perhaps it's something deeper; something unshaken by circumstances?
Lately, I have been in that position where I have had to genuinely answer this question for myself. My realisation is that, what moves or triggers me can either establish or destabilise me. I learnt that my joy can be triggered or quelled(killed), hence I have to guard my JOY intentionally.
As believers, joy is a fruit of the Spirit within us, and just like we cultivate natural fruits, we can cultivate joy in our hearts and spirits. We can fuel/trigger joy, it can grow, we can plant it, and we can reap the harvests of joy.
Knowing this changed my perspective on joy. We experience joy occasionally because we trigger joy occasionally. I guess it's the reason the apostle Paul admonished the Philippian Church over and over again "to rejoice". I believe he did so, because joy is a fruit of the Spirit that believers can(ought to) exude at will.
It's a matter of our choice. It's a decision. It's a garment that we wear; we reach within us and put it upon ourselves, and even the people around us. Regardless of the circumstance, regardless of the gruelling experience, the pain, or the hardships, we can respond with joy!
Why do we rejoice? We rejoice knowing that Christ's victory is ours and that we have overcome everything that seeks to overcome us, since Jesus Christ has overcome the world. We rejoice, because it is finished and it is done.
