Part 2 | JOY : The Habit That Makes Life Worth Living
Galatians 5:22 | August 23rd, 2026
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor – SCBC
- Galatians 5:22-23 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit (results) in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. (NLT)
- Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. (NLT)
1. J – JETTISON ALL REGRETS ABOUT MY PAST
A. The first thing that needs to happen to build the habit of joy into our lives is we have to let go of our regrets about our past.
B. To Jettison the regrets, we have to first deal with them honestly.
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
- Repentance means to turn about face and walk away from something.
- Isaiah 43:18-19Forget (let go of) what happened in the past and don’t dwell on events from long ago because I’m going to do something new.
C.The starting point of joy is to let go of the past and focus on the new.
2. O – OMIT ALL WORRIES ABOUT MY FUTURE
A. Our regrets can’t change the past and our worries won’t change the future.
B. Matthew 6:31-34 So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. 32 Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33 and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. 34 So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (NLT)
C. The old English word for “worry” means “to choke or to strangle”.
D. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (NIV)
3. Y – YIELD MYSELF TO GOD’S PURPOSE
A. God has given to all of us two purposes to accomplish: to love God and to love each other with a whole heart. In addition to these two purposes, God gives to you specific talents and opportunities in order for you to accomplish assignments He wants you to accomplish. It doesn’t matter what field your career takes you into, use that field to be in ministry for God.
B. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. 25 All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. (NLT)
C. Matthew 16:25 For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for Me shall find it again.
4. F – FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOOD
A. Philippians 4:8 Fix your thoughts (focus) on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
B. The more you fill your mind with all the good things God is doing in your life right now, the more joyful you will become. It is the attitude of gratitude.
C. Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
5. U – USE MY LIFE TO HELP OTHERS
A. I dare you to pray the most powerful prayer in the world for a Christ follower: “Lord, use me!”
B. Philippians 2:3-4 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
6. L – LEARN TO BE CONTENT
A. God does not mean that to be contented we are simply to accept the status quo.
B. Our contentment is to come in two areas:
1. We are to be contented with God’s leadership in our life.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (NLT)
2. We are to be contented with God’s provision in our life.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
C. Philippians 4:11 …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (NIV)