Welcome back to Fruitful Thursday! In August I discussed the first fruit of the spirit, Love. All September I will be discussing the second fruit, Joy! And boy am I ever ready. I feel I've been walking in a valley and I want to reclaim some of my joy.I used to be a "the glass is half full" kind of girl. I always had a smile on my face and a song in my heart. My friends used to call me Bubbles, my step father-in-law calls me Sparkles. But lately I've been walking around with a frown on my face and a rock in my heart.
Why? Because I've had my eyes set on things of this world. My mind has been set to selfish wanderings, drumming out a mantra of "Why why why, when when when, me me me!"
No more!
There is a new song in my heart and my mind will beat a new rhythm! I am determined to live a life that is fruit FULL!
What steps do you take to guard your heart against the everyday stress of life and keep your eyes focused on God?
I have been the same way as of late...let the things of this world creep in, dwelling on my past mistakes, saying poor me. I also used to be one that everyone would always say you are so sweet, so happy all the time...I know I lost that joy and that sweetness. I recently said that is it I am done walking around with a poor me attitude, I am reclaiming my joy... I know I am going to have to immerse myself in the Word, listen to joyful music and be in continual prayer...But ALL things are possible with God :-)
ReplyDeleteLike so many things with me, if I don't have a plan for consistency in place, I fail. I used to be hit or miss with Bible Study, always "wishing" I could be more consistent and "wishing" I could get more out of it. I started doing BSF, a very intense and structured Bible Study 2 years ago, and it has been life-changing. I need that structure and consistency, and with it I find such joy as my personal relationship with God has become so real.
ReplyDeleteI find myself getting so excited about my designated study time.
Last night I was driving when U2 came on the radio. I heard the phrase "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" and felt it in my heart. I've been emotionally down for a while, too, feeling like there's something missing from my life, that I need something more.
ReplyDeleteAnd then I felt a voice saying, "What are you looking for? You already have EVERYTHING you need! You have your family. You have God. You have all your needs met." And indeed, I do. I don't need to look any further. I just need to choose to feel more gratitude, and more joy.
Thanks for a great thought! It’s so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of day-to-day life and forget what’s most important. I find it important to take time to pray and be in silence each day to be sure I’m staying in touch and really listening to God.
ReplyDeletehttp://LivingMontessoriNow.com
I kind of found myself in that joyless valley, too, last spring. In fact, I still AM in that valley but stumbled upon Joy as my bible study group studied Beth Moore's Fruit of the Spirit course.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson on joy hit me between the eyes. I meditated upon Paul and Silas, in jail, in a dungeon, chained, cold, hungry--facing a certain death sentence. Yet they sang praises. Somehow they found/knew joy in their circumstance. They realized it wasn't about what they were going through but what they were going TO. Their knowledge of and trust in their Lord God superceded their minor affliction. Wow.
Thanks for the reminder because it is a daily choice to choose joy and no one said it would be easy.