Biblical Answer

Can our daily routines bring joy to those around us?

Yes, our daily routines can bring joy to those around us. As Richard Foster said, Joy is the keynote of all the Disciplines.29 When we practice habits such as feasting, gratitude, celebration, worship, solitude, and serving, we can experience joy and bring it to others. These habits empower us to settle our outstanding debts with others, God, and ourselves, leading to a life of peace, joy, and contentment.

Joy is not just a feeling, but a practice that can be developed over time. As the Psalmists show, joy is a response to God's goodness and love. When we learn to enjoy the things that God enjoys, we experience true joy. This joy is not just a personal experience, but can also be contagious and bring joy to those around us. When we are joyful, we become a joy to be around, and our presence can bring happiness to others.

In order to bring joy to those around us, we need to make joy a habit in our daily routines. This can be done by incorporating joyful practices such as gratitude, celebration, and worship into our daily lives. We can also seek to understand and appreciate the joy of others, and learn to enjoy the things that bring them joy. By doing so, we can create a ripple effect of joy that spreads to those around us, and brings happiness to our communities and relationships. As the Bible says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). By making joy a habit in our daily routines, we can bring joy to those around us and experience the joy of God in our lives.