Wired: Brain Science & Spiritual Growth | Part 2 | Joy | Chris Voigt

Joy
Wired: Brain Science & Spiritual Growth
September 18, 2022

Joy.
Oh joy.
Joy is what brings us together today.
I’ve got joy.
Joy, joy, joy, joy... down in my heart. Waaaaay down in my heart. That’s where I keep it. I’m saving it for a rainy day. It’s tucked away, safe and sound. You never know when you might need it and I don’t want to run out.
 
Ok... that was hard! I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, OR. And those of you who know me, know that I’m a lot more like Tigger than Eeyore! But for all the talk and singing and scripture about joy that is deeply embedded in our faith, a lot of Christ followers have neglected to let it show on their faces!
 
Organization guru, Marie Kondo is known for asking “Does it spark joy?” when helping people decide how to declutter their home or work environment. The implication is that our joy is fueled by the things around us, the stuff we’ve acquired. When it no longer sparks joy, get rid of it and find something new. And if you look at the spending habits of people all over the world, it’s easy to see that most people have bought in (pun totally intended) to that idea... that stuff is where we find our joy. But I beg to differ.

We are in the second week of our series Wired: Brain Science and Spiritual Growth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at how the brain works and the four ingredients that are essential for effective spiritual transformation. This week we are talking about joy. Real joy... where it comes from, how we get it and how we increase it. And just so you know, it’s not available on Amazon.
  
I’ve got the joy! Do you?