Father, I see it! I see this battle for joy! The enemy does sit there and scoff, laughing maybe, at the seeming impossibility of finding joy amidst the ‘mess’ of everyday life. The ‘mess’ of my own heart, the ‘mess’ of theirs, the pain, the sorrow all around.
“Ha, I dare you to find joy ‘here’ in this mess.” I can almost see him motioning as he sweeps his hand across my days. I almost hear the taunting with each passing emotion . . . wait, it’s a challenge! Can I find joy amidst ‘this’ mess?
Yes! An emphatic YES! I will contend for joy! I will contend for giving thanks, for praise!
I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day. I choose JOY! I will enter into His presence with thanksgiving and joy.
Why does the enemy fight so hard to keep us from joy, from thanksgiving? Well, for one thing, he hates us. (smile) Maybe, in part, it is because it has to do with what You were showing me last week. The joy of the Lord is my strength. In Your presence is the fullness of joy. I enter Your presence with thanksgiving and praise.
Where am I the strongest? In Your presence.
When am I the strongest? When I am rejoicing.
How do I get there? By thanksgiving and praise.
I see, Father, why of all the ‘basics’, (prayer, meditation, reading the Word, etc.) that rejoicing, giving thanks seems to be the biggest battle right now.
I choose to contend for this one. I am choosing, this day, to serve You with gladness~to find joy~ to give thanks~to praise.
Open my eyes, O Lord, to see that when the battle is the most intense I need to sing, to praise, to thank. Give grace, I pray, to obey . . . R.E.J.O.I.C.E. A.L.W.A.Y.S. and I.N. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. G.I.V.E. T.H.A.N.K.S!
I contend for joy!
“Ha, I dare you to find joy ‘here’ in this mess.” I can almost see him motioning as he sweeps his hand across my days. I almost hear the taunting with each passing emotion . . . wait, it’s a challenge! Can I find joy amidst ‘this’ mess?
Yes! An emphatic YES! I will contend for joy! I will contend for giving thanks, for praise!
I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day. I choose JOY! I will enter into His presence with thanksgiving and joy.
Why does the enemy fight so hard to keep us from joy, from thanksgiving? Well, for one thing, he hates us. (smile) Maybe, in part, it is because it has to do with what You were showing me last week. The joy of the Lord is my strength. In Your presence is the fullness of joy. I enter Your presence with thanksgiving and praise.
Where am I the strongest? In Your presence.
When am I the strongest? When I am rejoicing.
How do I get there? By thanksgiving and praise.
I see, Father, why of all the ‘basics’, (prayer, meditation, reading the Word, etc.) that rejoicing, giving thanks seems to be the biggest battle right now.
I choose to contend for this one. I am choosing, this day, to serve You with gladness~to find joy~ to give thanks~to praise.
Open my eyes, O Lord, to see that when the battle is the most intense I need to sing, to praise, to thank. Give grace, I pray, to obey . . . R.E.J.O.I.C.E. A.L.W.A.Y.S. and I.N. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. G.I.V.E. T.H.A.N.K.S!
I contend for joy!
5 comments:
Beautiful and oh, so true!
Ahhhhhh... I can not relate how much I needed this post today. God has truly blessed me through your words. I stand alongside you in this battle and I too, will contend for joy!
Wow. . . powerful stuff and oh so true! I think I will print this out and put it up in my kitchen so I can be reminded to fight for JOY when I get upset at the kids or one of the many messes they make. :) Thank you so much for this!
Yes! This post is excellent!
"I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day. I choose JOY! I will enter into His presence with thanksgiving and joy."
You are very correct about joy and entering into His presence. Remember what Jesus said:
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
(John 15:10-11)
It is His joy that we have, and it is His joy that gives us full joy!
Rejoicing and praising, thanking Him and obedience to His Word.
Your post is very edifying!
God bless you!
~Sarah
Thank you for this! :)
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