These last few days have centered around reclaiming my joy. Joy comes from an eternal relationship with Christ. The moment you ask Christ into your heart, a seed of joy burrows deep into your soul. It takes root and forms a permanent stronghold in your heart. I was elated at what I discovered as we began our new Bible Study in Sunday School today. It is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
Today, our study began with looking at what is at the root of our fears and sorrows. What are we clinging to so tightly that our hands will not open to accept the grace and overflowing mercy of God? What are we staring at in our past that does not allow us to look ahead to our future? Are we complacent? Are we stagnant? As I began to examine my own heart, I realized that there are some things that I am gripping so tightly that my hands are unable to release and welcome in the presence and healing of God. While I wallow in anxiety and the occasional emotional chaos, I find that I have become comfortable here. While I know it is not healthy, neither from a spiritual or physical sense, I have become so accustomed to these emotions and my sense of being that I have lost focus on my Maker. He has designed a beautiful and perfect plan...but He didn't stop with just the design. No. He continues to bring it to fruition. I became acutely aware of just how much I need to release the ties that bind and open my hands to the blessings of God. I need to raise my hands and catch the grace and mercy that He showers over me in abundance. I need to live a life of thanksgiving, of prayer, and joy.
Our challenge for this week is to begin our One Thousand Gifts list. We'll begin by writing down the first thing we see or think of each morning when we wake. The point is to put our thankfulness in perspective. I can't wait to begin!
Okay. Back to Jehoshaphat...he was faced with a waging war. While this was in the literal sense for him, we all face "wars" of our own, each and every day. Did he shudder in the darkness and silence? No. He thanked God with a grateful heart. He went to God first. He settled his heart on God's promises and Truth.
"If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we wills stand in Your presence before this temple that bears Your Name and will cry out to You in our distress, and you will hear us and save us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
2 Chronicles 20:9 and 12b.
The last part of this scripture is what resonated with me then and continues even now this evening: our eyes are on You. Time to take off the rose tinted glasses and stare straight into the heavens and seek directly the will and heart of God.
As I prepare to head to bed, my heart and head are reeling with ways in which I can already see and feel God working...
Just for Fun
We introduced G to green beans tonight...while they are far from her favorite at this point, she tolerated them and ate about half of her serving.
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