The Joy of Living for Christ
Does the joy of the Lord empower your ministry?
Do you worship from a posture of joy, or do you find yourself worshipping from a sense of obligation?
Life can be overwhelming. The responsibilities at home and work often weigh me down. The ever-growing to-do list at home distracts me from my relationships with my wife and kids. The demands at work can keep me from encouraging and building up my teammates. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of “just getting by” or “just finishing the project.” If we’re not careful, we can rush through life, quickly dismissing or missing out on the truly important moments.
In 2023, my prayer for myself was to develop patience in the hard moments and contentment in my role at work. However, recently, I’ve been challenged to take it a step further—not just to be content with my work, but to actually live in a posture of joy. I’ve realized that I need to pray for God to grant me joy in my efforts at work. Perhaps you find yourself in the same situation?
Ultimately, I believe this shift in perspective is an act of worship. Choosing joy in the hard tasks is a way to honor the Lord. Whether we are worship leaders, tech leaders, or pastors, our positions are opportunities to bring worship to God and inspire others to experience His joy.
Paul’s words in Philippians 1:27 resonate deeply: “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Our daily worship is more than a ritual; it’s a lifestyle and a conscious choice to praise God in whatever we are doing.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul says, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
As I wrote in Purpose Driven Production:
“A Christian’s daily worship is a lifestyle and a choice to praise God in whatever you are doing. We wake up each morning to ‘set our hearts on things that are above’ (Colossians 3:1). This calling to magnify God in His creation goes beyond song, music, words, or actions. We belong to Him. We are His children. We have been created and called to a much bigger picture than we could have ever imagined. Living a lifestyle of worship is choosing to magnify God in and through the skills He has given you. Daily worship cultivates a life focused on truth and the pursuit of God, enabled by the Spirit to live, breathe, and move!”
So, how does the joy of the Lord empower your ministry? Are you living and worshipping from a posture of joy? As we navigate the challenges of life, let’s strive not only to be content but to embrace joy as an act of worship, bringing glory to God in all that we do.
