are you a joy giver or a joy stealer?

Have you ever been in a group of people when someone walks in and the entire mood of the room changes whether for the better or the worse?

Have you ever had a difficult day and someone crosses your path and makes it better? Or, alternatively, makes it worse?

How can we be joy givers rather than joy stealers?

Be on the lookout for those we can encourage.

Show gratitude.

Keep our focus on Jesus and spend ample time in His Word, which helps us keep our priorities, and therefore our attitude, straight.

Do everything without grumbling and complaining (Philippians 2:14).

Think of others as more highly than ourselves.

Assist someone in need.

Make it a goal to make someone’s day better. This can be someone random such as the grocery store clerk or someone you know and love.

Bear another’s burdens.

We’ve all been joy stealers a time or two, crabby because of a bad day or reacting harshly when we should have shown grace. But we should strive not to make it a habit. Rather, with His help, we can speak into people’s lives and be joy givers instead of joy stealers. Joy givers who realize that our joy is not from happy circumstances, but because of the hope we have in Him.

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