Focus on Joy

If we’re not careful, we can miss the whole point of discipleship. We can go through the motions but experience none of the joy.

Here are three steps to keep joy in mind as you pursue God.

Remember the Goal

Sam Storms, a pastor in Oklahoma, explains:

The single most important principle I ever discovered is this: the goal or purpose of the Christian is precisely the pursuit of happiness — in God. The reason for this is that there is no greater way to glorify God than to find in Him the happiness that my soul so desperately craves.

Storms writes, “God is most glorified in us when we are most happy and delighted and satisfied in Him.”

George Müller, a famous missionary from the past, said, “My first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day, was to have my soul happy in the Lord.”

Every day, as you read your Bible and pray, remind yourself that you aren’t pursuing tasks. You are pursuing satisfaction in God.

Pray for Joy

Consider praying this verse from the psalms regularly:

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(Psalm 90:14)

Ask God to satisfy you with his love. Ask for him to give you joy in him, even when circumstances are difficult.

Keep It Simple

I listened to a podcast recently — I can’t remember which one — and heard this great advice at the end. It’s great advice to apply to our pursuit of God:

• Keep it simple.
• Keep it relational.
• Keep it fun.

Simplify your spiritual practices. Keep them relational. And keep them fun.