“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy and praise—thankfulness to God for His goodness—are connected. When you take time to thank God for your blessings, your problems and concerns fade into the background. Concentrating on the good things God has brought into your life puts you in a positive frame of mind. Do that for a while, and you’ll find that you’re happier than before. Keep it up, and your happiness will grow. With this joy in your heart, you won’t be so easily pulled down by problems or worries; you will be encouraged and strengthened in spirit.

This short exercise may help.

You’ll need a cup, a stack of paper (any scraps will do) cut into pieces just large enough to write a phrase, and a pen or pencil.

Take one of those small pieces of paper and write one of the things you’re thankful for. Wad the paper into a ball and put it in the cup. Take another piece of paper, write another blessing, wad it up, and put it in the cup. Keep repeating the process. Be specific. Cover topics such as recent successes, members of your family and circle of friends, experiences you’ve enjoyed, sicknesses that are now behind you, problems that have been resolved, material comforts, your favorite things, and so on.

Continue until the cup is filled to overflowing and you can say with David, the great psalmist of the Bible, “My cup runs over” (Psalm 23:5). You’ll probably be surprised at how many things you have to be thankful for, as well as how strengthening it is to thank God for them. ∏

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If you would like to experience the peace within that you’ve been reading about on these pages, you can. It starts with inviting Jesus into your life, which you can do by praying this prayer:

Dear Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for me, so I could be forgiven my wrongs and have eternal life. I open my heart to You now. Please come into my life and meet my deepest needs. Amen.

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I’ve learned to sing the song of joy,

My cup is running o’er

With blessings full of peace and love,

And still there’s more and more.

—Jonathan Bush Atchinson
 (“A Glad New Song,” 1891)