Joy

“O Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Comfort and Joy! O Tidings of Comfort and Joy”

— God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

In a season of happiness, gifts, Christmas carols, and candlelight, we might misunderstand the concept of joy. All the fun and warm fuzzy feelings are special part of the season, but if you mistake these feelings for true joy, you might find yourself feeling hopeless when the music fades. True joy in the gift of Christ Jesus is the knowledge that whatever we face in our lives, we have a God who loves us, and who has saved us through His son. Joy is experienced not just in the glow of the mountain peaks, but also in the depths of our darkest valleys. The joy Christ gave us when he came to Earth is not one that comes and goes with the changing seasons, but a steadfast, constant comfort and heart-filled celebration knowing that this earth can’t throw anything our way that will separate us from our God and His great love and mercy. So whether you are celebrating or grieving this holiday season, know that you have access to pure joy in Christ. It’s a beautiful gift from our compassionate, loving God, and it’s a gift He freely offers to you today.

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause joy for all the people.”

— Luke 2:10

Journey on!

Pay Attention to Your Self-Talk

“God has already given us peace of mind, but some of us are yet to experience it, because they continue to feed the wrong words to their subconscious mind. ”

— Edmond Mbiaka

How many times do we beat ourselves up over things? We make a mistake, have an awkward encounter, or find ourselves in a stressful situation, and the first thing we want to do is bad-mouth ourselves. "That was so stupid! How could I be such an idiot?"

In counseling, they call that negative self-talk. Over time, continual negative self-talk skews our perception of reality. Satan would love for us to believe that we are not worthy and stay focused on our faults. But God tells us we are His beloved children! We are created in His image. No, we will never be perfect, but that is OK because he has redeemed us through the blood of Christ! God wants us to recognize our mistakes and work to do better next time, but he never told us to punish ourselves with our thoughts. That is not of God!

If you are guilty of negative self talk, take time this week to pay attention to the negative messages that are on repeat in your mind. Write each one down, and then recognize it as a false thought. Then write down a truth from God to replace that thought! You can use scriptures, or just simple phrases. For example if one of your regular thoughts is "I am so stupid!" you can replace that lie with "I made a mistake, but I am still God's child." If you think to yourself, "I will never measure up," you can replace that lie with "God has a purpose for my life, and I am worthy in His sight."

This what therapists call "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy." It's so important to stay focused on God's truth and love and not on these lies we tell ourselves. I hope this exercise helps you this week!

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

— 1 John 3:1

Journey on!

Trust in His Power

“The reason why I smile even in the midst of the storm, is because I know that Jesus Christ will carry me through.”

— Gift Gugu Mona, South Africa

When things are in certain, I find myself feeling anxious. I'd like to know the plan, know what to expect, and prepare the best as I can... but that's not often a realistic option! Instead, life can be extremely unpredictable! It veers in all directions. We feel overwhelmed when life feels so out of control. But these twists and turns do not come as a surprise to our faithful, omnipresent Lord! What seems like chaos to us is a beautiful tapestry of life to the One who has created the world. He knows the good that will come from our lives. He knows the plans he has for us, and they are to prosper and not harm us (Jer. 29:11). We just need to remember that when life feels out of control, it's not... it's in His control. Be intentional about trusting in God this week as you face life's unpredictability. He loves you and has you in His all-powerful hands.

“In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me? ”

— Psalm 56:4

Journey on!

Watch and Listen

When we're driving, we have to keep our eyes on the road. We have to watch for red lights, warning signs, other cars, and many other things that protect us from hurting others and ourselves on the road.

As children of God, we have to keep our eyes focused on the only one who can see what lies ahead of us in life. God can see a bad situation long before we can, and it's up to us to trust in Him when He's guiding us in a new direction. We have confidence that He knows the right way to go so we can live life to the fullest without as many pitfalls along the way! Seek His direction in your life today!

“My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”

— Psalm 25:15 NLT

Journey on!

Peace Anew

Today is a new day. We don't have to stress over what happened yesterday or what will come tomorrow, only rest in His perfect peace as He gives us the gift of today! Our God loves us so much, and He is ready to do a new thing in your life. Open your heart to him. Sit with him, listen for His voice. Embrace the peace and joy and security that you have in His arms. Today might bring new challenges to face and new obstacles to overcome, but we can go into every circumstance knowing that He has gone before us and will walk us through every step. The Lord is gracious and so, so good. Focus on these things today.

“A new day will dawn on us from above
because our God is loving and merciful.
He will give light to those who live in the dark
and in death’s shadow.
He will guide us into the way of peace.”

— Luke 1:78-79 GW

Journey on!

New in Him

We all sin, and when we feel like we've really messed up, it can be hard to believe that God will really forgive us again and again. But the Bible tells us that Christ died for all our sins, and we are forgiven through Him! Don't let your bad moment define your relationship with God. He loves you, and His mercies are new every morning. It's a new day, a new chance to walk with Him. If you simply come to Him, He will welcome you with open arms, day after day. You are a new creation in Him, and as you strive to walk in love and serve Him, He will continue to bless you abundantly.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

— Lamentations 3:22-23

Journey on!

Greatness

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.”

— Mark 10:43 (MSG)

We all have our own ideas of what it means to be truly great. Usually we think of greatness as relating to strength, fame, accomplishments. God sees greatness in the small things, the humble people, the servants. When we submit to God and put others' needs ahead of our own, giving of ourselves to help others, that is greatness! How can you be a servant this week?

Journey on!

You CAN

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t... you’re right.”

— Henry Ford

My dad used to quote this phrase all the time when I was growing up. He believed (and still does) that a positive approach to life could accomplish great things. Now, we aren't all equipped to do some things, but with perseverance and dedication, we can do a lot more than we realize.

And the second part of the quote is true, as well: if we choose to believe we can't do something before we have even tried, we never will.

Don't sell yourself short. Take a look at what talents and gifts God has given you. Pray for direction in what you hope to accomplish. Set a goal and chase after it with confidence in Him to bless your endeavors if it is His will. Stop saying "I can't," and you may be surprised what you are capable of accomplishing!

“I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”

— Philippians 4:13

Journey on!

A Pleasing Aroma

“Walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

— Ephesians 5:2

An aroma is a pleasing scent. It fills us with joy and warmth. A fresh baked tray of cookies, a pot of coffee, a hint of lavender in a bath, the smell of fresh air in nature... all these things are so pleasing and life-giving. God tells us to offer our lives up as a pleasing aroma to Him. We do that by walking in love, pouring into others' lives, and daily focusing our hearts and minds on God! It's easy to get busy and caught up in our to-do lists, but it's so important to take time to connect with God so that our spiritual lives are a pleasing aroma to Him. In this way, we are more equipped to love on others, too.

Journey on!

Accept the Gift of Forgiveness

“Forgiveness isn’t just a blessing you deliver to another human being. Forgiveness is also a gift you give yourself.”

— Robin Sharma

It's not an easy thing to forgive someone who has deeply hurt us. It can be harder, still, to learn to forgive ourselves. Resentment is something the devil enjoys encouraging in our hearts, but if we let it consume us, we are allowing the thing that hurt us to have more power over our lives. It's so important to find a way to forgive, even if it is a long process. We should never give up seeking God's healing and striving towards forgiveness. It may seem impossible now, but if you continue to pray and ask for God's strength, He has the power to guide you through to a place of peace. Don't let resentment hinder your growth and peace--ask God to help you forgive today.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

— Ephesians 4:32

Journey on!

God Over All

We have such an awesome, powerful God! He cares about every detail of our lives. We are His children, and He loves us. We find ourselves worrying over our lives, how we will pay a bill, where we will find a job, whether our health will improve... but God is always there. Nothing we face is too big for Him! That doesn't mean we won't face hardships, but it does mean that whatever we go through, we have God taking care of us. He is the living God, the creator of all things, and He is on our side! Everyday as you face new challenges, remember who is in control. There is nothing impossible for Him!

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

— Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Journey on!

God's Love

“God never intended for us to look to others for the kind of love only He can give.”

— Lysa Terkeurst

Too many times we look to others to fill empty places in our hearts... places only God can fill. Maybe you put unrealistic expectations on your spouse. Maybe you feel like your life will never be complete if you can't find a girlfriend or boyfriend. Maybe you feel let down by friends.

God created human relationships to be a blessing. It's good to have people in your life who you love and who love you back. But when it comes to the deep, empty spaces in your heart and in your soul, it's unfair to expect others to fill those voids. Only God can fill those spaces, heal your hurts, fill you with peace. Only God can forgive your sins, give you salvation, give you purpose. Only He can complete you, and when you allow Him to do so, it will make your relationships with others so much greater!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

— Psalm 23:1 (NLT)

Journey on!

Think Positive

“You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.”

— Joyce Meyer

What a great quote! If we want to start living life to the fullest in God and make a positive impact on others, it all starts in our hearts. Sure, life isn’t easy and our attitudes and emotions aren’t always going to be bright. But that doesn’t mean we should spend every moment of our lives being negative! Too many people get caught up in a negative rut without even realizing it. Our hearts, minds, and souls are too valuable to subject to constant negativity. The Bible says it this way

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

— Proverbs 4:23

The discouraging messages we tell ourselves, the negative attitudes we keep… all those things bring us down and don’t point us to Jesus. And they don’t point others to Him, either! Do a heart check this week and see if you are in a negative rut. If you are, pray that God will lift the things that are burdening you and help you stay focused on the blessings He has to offer. You might find it makes you feel so much lighter!

Journey on!

A Morning Prayer

God, when I wake in the morning, help me to take a deep breath and pause before I even get out of bed. Help me remember what a blessing it is to be alive… to know that every step I take today, You will be with me. I want to start my days, not with the alarm and the emails and the to-do lists but with YOU. Thank You, God, that You are stronger than anything I face and that my hope is in You. I will lean on You when I struggle today, and I will give thanks in my heart for the blessings that come my way. Help me to see the world through Your eyes and love others intentionally. Show me how I can grow today. Teach me new things about Your Word and about Your love. You are my Rock, and I put my trust in you.

“From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

— Psalm 61:2

Journey on!