The Joy Challenge: Discover . . .
Randy Frazee titles his latest book The Joy Challenge: Discover the Ancient Secret to Experiencing Worry-Defeating, Circumstance-Defying Happiness (Thomas Nelson, 2024). Currently, Randy serves as a pastor at Westlake Family Church in Kansas City, KS. The apostle Paul wrote Philippians, a treatise on joy, while in prison. Most significantly, the Greek word for joy Paul used, chara, refers to an inner sense of contentment and purpose in life. However, Paul never tells us how to avoid joy robbers. Because it’s not possible. Therefore, the secret of Paul’s success comes down to mindset. Hence, joy conditioning helps you overcome the struggles of your current situation and thus increase your joy.
In addition, praying with joy also increases your joy, even amid challenging circumstances. And when you proactively love others, you transfer your joy to them. Above all, like Paul, we need to focus on our mission, rather than ourselves. As a result, we find joy in helping people find hope in Jesus. Furthermore, hope in Jesus enables us to embrace no-lose situations. That, in turn, produces greater joy. The key involves keeping this truth ever-present in your mind. A relationship with Jesus puts you in a no-lose situation, filling your life with purpose. Thus, God calls Christians to live distinctively different lives for the sake of others.
Biblical humility flows out of a person with high God esteem. So, in the process, we heed His call to live up to our identity as sons and daughters of God. Otherwise, if you leave y our life unattended, that’s exactly where you’ll end up. But celebrating others and speaking it to them brings us personal joy. Also, it strengthens the bond between the people involved. Doing something for others has the profound effect of giving us more. Consequently, it’s essential that we practice the principles of the joy challenge on a daily basis. For legalism and joy cannot coexist. Nor is it possible to love and fear at the same time.
In conclusion, Pastor Frazee counsels, the commitment to advance in the knowledge of Jesus takes intense concentration and effort. Yet, when you take that inevitable step backward in your goal of knowing Christ, Randy exhorts you to get up and keep moving forward toward your goal. Although prayer doesn’t eliminate the object of your fear, prayer reminds us that you have One in your corner who is greater. Therefore, to sustain the joy challenge, bathe your mind daily in your blessings. And even though we tend to bristle at the thought, we need to let people help us. Because letting others help you may serve as the best gift you can give back to another person.
Finally, Randy gives all glory to God:
“This way of life — a joy despite our circumstances, other people, and our past, and a joy that defeats worry — is only possible because of God.”