Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Psalm 43:3-4
I along with my Bible study girlfriends are currently studying Galatians through a Beth Moore study called Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. And I am so...well, full of joy to be looking at the characteristic of JOY this week. Crazy I know, if I take into consideration all of the stress and turmoil life brings each day. But when we set our eyes on the Lord the struggle diminishes and the joy increases because we know that ultimately our sufferings are part to moving us forward to that "hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 talks about. This shift in focus from ourselves onto God draws our attention to purpose of life's experiences but there is more to be seen. We begin to see something that is beautifully purposeful and the result is joy. It is exactly what is shown in the story of Paul and Silas of Acts 16:16-40 where their beating and imprisonment ends in the salvation of a whole family.
I would like to use one of my friends, Julia, for a moment
here-- Julia has a knack for taking an ordinary even somewhat worn
out pair of shoes and turns them into a sparkly expression of
joy by embellishing them with crystals. She does beautiful work and
her creations certainly grab your attention. I can't help but think that no matter where those shoes may take her, they have to
give her some measure of joy when she happens to look down
and catch their glimmer. I think that is how God works in our
lives, too. Life can be a drag, wearing us out and leaving us
discontented and even hopeless but if we take time to glace at him
even for a moment we will see the glimmer of his light. A sparkle of
truth will catch our attention and we will be drawn in and reminded
of the joy of living in His presence while walking out His will no matter where it takes us. Delight in the Lord and allow him to
show you the joyful expression of his work in you.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
James 1:2-4, Nehemiah 8:10
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