Choose Joy
I've heard over the years that after you've had a "mountain top" experience with the Lord, you may end up with whiplash while descending and running squarely into reality. Although my situation is nothing as grand as Moses 40 days and 40 nights with God (Ex. 24:15-18), I spent ten days in Israel and was deeply touched by the history and architecture that remains from the time of Christ.
After talking to my friend, Bobbie about the trip, and explaining my trying experience at the airport on the way home, I realized that Satan had stepped in to squash my joy and I had let him. Since the trip I have struggled to recover my joy, so I've been praying to get a grip and move on. Last night at about 3:00AM, the time the Lord usually visits with me as He knows I'm too tired to do anything but listen, the Lord seemed to answer my pray. What came into my thoughts was that joy is a choice that is made daily, not based upon my feelings, but the facts of the Word of God. Bible references on joy are too many to list.
This morning as I picked up, She Who Laughs, Lasts!, the author of the short story on pages 92-93, Barbara Johnson, wrote the following:
But according to my calculations, reality is this very second. You see, yesterday is only a memory, and tomorrow is merely a dream. Today is an illusion. That leaves this one second. Every day you have 86,400 seconds. But they come only one at a time. In your bank account of time, no balance is carried over until the next day. You use those seconds or lose them. There is no chance to reinvest.
Make your investment wisely by believing you deserve to be full of joy this very second. And you can be. Decide to be. Don't put it off until you finish your chores...Yes, joy is free, but it doesn't come cheaply. It's based on who I am, not what I have, where I'm headed, or where I've been. It's a biblical choice, and it's the best option-every single second of the day!
Thank you Lord for your amazingly personal confirmation. KT
After talking to my friend, Bobbie about the trip, and explaining my trying experience at the airport on the way home, I realized that Satan had stepped in to squash my joy and I had let him. Since the trip I have struggled to recover my joy, so I've been praying to get a grip and move on. Last night at about 3:00AM, the time the Lord usually visits with me as He knows I'm too tired to do anything but listen, the Lord seemed to answer my pray. What came into my thoughts was that joy is a choice that is made daily, not based upon my feelings, but the facts of the Word of God. Bible references on joy are too many to list.
This morning as I picked up, She Who Laughs, Lasts!, the author of the short story on pages 92-93, Barbara Johnson, wrote the following:
But according to my calculations, reality is this very second. You see, yesterday is only a memory, and tomorrow is merely a dream. Today is an illusion. That leaves this one second. Every day you have 86,400 seconds. But they come only one at a time. In your bank account of time, no balance is carried over until the next day. You use those seconds or lose them. There is no chance to reinvest.
Make your investment wisely by believing you deserve to be full of joy this very second. And you can be. Decide to be. Don't put it off until you finish your chores...Yes, joy is free, but it doesn't come cheaply. It's based on who I am, not what I have, where I'm headed, or where I've been. It's a biblical choice, and it's the best option-every single second of the day!
Thank you Lord for your amazingly personal confirmation. KT
Choose joy~this very second:)
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Wow. I'd love to read that book, not only do I believe that way, I know there's always that one entity trying to take it away. I have to chose joy and learn to laugh at my self more. As many seconds as I can. Love your blogs!!
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