EXPERIENCING MORE JOY & PEACE

“Habits That Will Increase Your Joy”
Pastor Doug Heisel – December 11, 2022

Philippians 1:3-6 — I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.

Habits That Produce More Joy and Improve Relational Health

1. Increase your GRATITUDE, rather than letting what is NEGATIVE dominate your thinking and conversation.
   
   (vs. 3) — I thank my God every time I remember you.
   
   Background: Acts 16
   
   Relationship Habit #1: Decide that a spirit of gratitude is going to DEFINE how you think and talk.
   

2. Speak positive PRAYERS over people, rather than being a FRUIT INSPECTOR.
   
   (vs. 4) — In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…
   
   Relationship Habit #2: By faith, write down some spiritual declarations that you can speak over your life and family. Below are some examples:
   
   I declare that…

   1. Our family serves the Lord and puts Him first. Our devotion to Him and His Word defines who we are and what we do.
      

   2. People will know we love Jesus by the way we treat them. We are an extension of His love.
      

   3. Neither failures nor successes define our worth. Our identity is found in Christ alone.
      

   4. We keep no record of wrongs. We release resentment and replace it with kindness.
      

   5. We are Spirit-filled servant-leaders who joyfully do our part to build the Church and share the good news of Jesus with more people.
      

3. Be PATIENT with other people’s growth, believing it’s the Lord’s job to GROW them, not yours.
   
   (vs. 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.
   
   Relationship Habit #3: Focus on your own GROWTH and model a life of GRACE to others.