Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
How true this song should be throughout the year, but somehow, we only sing it around Christmas. The significance of joy in our lives go far beyond a mere song.
Scientific proof joy works.
According to healthline.com joy is felt in our neurotransmitters, which are tiny chemical “messenger” cells that transmit signals between neurons (nerves) and other bodily cells. Those neurotransmitters are responsible for processes and feelings in almost every aspect of the body, from blood flow to digestion.
We feel joy in our bodies because of the release of dopamine and serotonin, two types of neurotransmitters in the brain. Both chemicals are heavily associated with happiness (in fact, people with clinical depression often have lower levels of serotonin). When something you perceive as happy happens, your brain receives the signal to release these chemicals into your central nervous system (which consists of your brain and spinal cord). This then causes reactions in other bodily systems.
Here is a diagram showing the frequency of emotions in our body and how it raises the frequency in the body. For a healthy body we have to remain in higher frequency.
joy protects your heart
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
We all experience some form of joy during holiday season, vacation or when we look forward to something different.
Your heart is at rest, peace, and you might feel healthier and ready for life again. The joy you were feeling during these times caused flow to take place within your body. Causing stress and emotional blockages to clear out.
This state of mind is literally medicine to the heart.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
If you place your heart value on joy, your will find treasure in that place regardless of your circumstances.
The opposite is also true, stress, anxiety, fear, worry can cause major damage not only to your heart but also to your body.
Here are reasons why we should keep our joy levels up.
- joy strengthens your immune system
- joy combats stress
- joyful people have fewer aches and pains
- joy lengthens your life
joy in rest
When you discover how many of times joy appears in scripture you realize the importance of it. In the English Standard Version of the Bible, the words “joy,” “rejoice,” or “joyful” appear a total of 430 times, compared with “happy” or “happiness,” which appear only ten times.”
Happiness takes place from an external experience or encounter, and it goes away once the experience have subsided. However, joy is an inside state of being. It’s a place connected to His Rest.
It is His joy in you, outside of Him joy is not fully experienced.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11
trust in joy
In a previous blog I spoke about Trust found in Rest you can read about it here Trust. As you learn to abide in the place of Rest, you grow in Trust. As you trust you find yourself being filled with His joy. You choose what you want to be filled with. Joy or worry?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
As you are filled with joy your heart will be open to your path of life. You will be brave enough to walk on the path He set before you because of your awareness of His presence. Your Trust in His will for you life.
“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28
Allow yourself during this season of joy to experience His joy fully. Keep it close to your heart and be aware of His joyful presence. When you return back to work you can draw on the awareness of His joy to be strengthened in your heart and have a healthy heart as you journey through the new year.
