July 2024 || Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts

The July book of month is…(drumroll please)… "Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts" by Trillia Newbell! As Christians, we are gifted JOY in Jesus. However, we often struggle to truly experience joy in our daily lives. Just imagine, for a second, what your life would look like with a daily BOOST of joy?!?! Imagine more laughter, more delight, and more smiles. And not that FAKE “joy”…that kind of “joy” that is just slapping a smile on your face when you’re barely functioning underneath it all. I’m talking about real, authentic, true JOY. This book is a call to embrace joy in the everyday blessings of life, grounded in a deep appreciation of God’s goodness. Through practical advice, biblical insights, and personal anecdotes, Newbell encourages readers to cultivate gratitude, overcome obstacles to joy, and find delight in the myriad of gifts God provides. The book ultimately points to Christ as the source and sustainer of true joy, inviting believers to live with an attitude of gratitude (spoiler alert: you may hear this phrase in future sermons) and a heart open to God’s daily blessings.

With these book recommendations, I hope to not only expose you to great works of literature, but also to trusted and gifted authors. Newbell has written a number of books; some works for adults and some are for kids. If you connect well with this book, I’d recommend you check out some of her other books as well!

Things I loved from the book:

• Highlighting that Joy as a Christian Virtue

Newbell kicks off the book by reminding us that joy isn't just for overly enthusiastic, naturally caffeinated morning people; it's a core part of the Christian life. Put simply, joy is a fruit of the Spirit! God wants us to be joyful. He’s inviting us to experience joy in His presence and in the good things He provides.
 

• How She Re-orients Our Eyes to See God’s Gifts to us

So often, we walk around life with our “cynical sunglasses” on and miss out on the everyday blessings that God has for us. Newbell encourages us to open our eyes to the myriad of small, everyday gifts that God bestows, from nature to relationships to simple pleasures. When we shift from cynicism/negativity/entitlement to recognizing and giving thanks for God’s goodness in all aspects of life, our joy bucket gets more and more full!

• Newbell Puts to Bed the Many False Beliefs About Joy

Newbell addresses common misconceptions, such as the belief that joy is superficial or that it must be earned. She clarifies that joy is a gift from God, meant to be embraced.
However, this book doesn’t shy away from the reality of suffering and pain. Newbell explains that joy and suffering can coexist and that joy in God’s gifts can be a source of strength during difficult times. This may be the BEST section of this entire book!

• The Practical Ways to Experience Joy

We all want MORE joy…but how does this practically work? Newbell offers practical advice on how to cultivate joy daily, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in hobbies you love, and spending time with loved ones. For me, nothing fills up my joy bucket more than being with people that I love and laughing until my sides hurt…give me more of this please!

Sabbath! If you are in a discipleship group, you know that the most recent study has been on this. Newbell speaks DIRECTLY to the connection between joy and the Sabbath.

• How Often Newbell Centers Us Back on Jesus

Throughout the book, Newbell points readers back to Christ as the ultimate source of joy. She emphasizes that all good gifts are reflections of God’s character and His love for us. We HAVE to remember that gifts point us to the Giver…not the other way around.

Summary
"Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts" by Trillia Newbell is a GREAT read. Through practical advice, biblical wisdom, and plenty of laughs, Newbell encourages us to cultivate gratitude, dodge the joy-stealers, and find delight in everything from the mundane to the miraculous. Ultimately, she points to Jesus as the eternal joy-giver, inviting us to live with hearts full of gratitude and eyes wide open to God’s daily blessings. So, go on, enjoy life like it’s one big divine gift from God—because that’s exactly what it is!