Choosing Joy

I was listening to a woman on a talk show speak of the power of praising God regardless of circumstance. She went so far as to say that she would respond to an inquiry about how she was doing with a "choosing joy" response. I had recalled the verse that compells us to "choose life", and how our choices add up to either the abundant life or something far less than we were meant to experience. The phrase seemed to make sense. I have been thinking about that choice of joy on and off this week. Yes, I have been "brewing" something in response to that phrase. It will not release me from its' grasp. I figure that I am either just obsessing as a result of a personality quirk or the Lord is really trying to get my attention.

On the way to choosing joy this week, I got stuck here and there on the daily potholes and the overall picture of my life as I see it. Eventually, I started dodging the potholes and refocusing on the Lord. I may have to go back to a few of those potholes and fill them in as a part of being a responsible adult. In the midst of those responsibilities, challenges, and mountain shadows I long to praise Him with a single-minded heart. Regardless of the circumstance I find myself in, He is the Alpha and the Omega. This temporal struggle of life will be a small blip on the screen of eternity. Perspective is powerful; and when powered by faith it is a glorious propellant towards the abundant life.

My prayer today is that we will be enabled by the Holy Spirit to refocus our energies towards that powerful instrument of praise. He is worthy regardless of the view we get from the vantage point of our scratched lenses. His sacrifice and grace enable us to overcome the struggles of walking this earth in our clay packages.

Cup o'joy
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven to you...

Lynne