Joy ~ a fruit of the Spirit,
“one of the most significant hallmarks of God's people”
(according to Phillip Keller, author of A Gardner Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit).
Not dependent on what's happening in my life or the world around me,
not determined by the behaviors of others or my emotions,
joy is a visible indication of God “at work.”
It is indication that I believe God is who He says that He is,
that I believe that He is a faithful God and that He keeps all His promises,
regardless of what is currently happening.
It is a deep awareness that God is present, though I do not see Him,
that He is at work even when I fail to understand what He is doing.
This gives my life a stability that enables me to continue on;
it produces a settledness, a confidence that God's hand is working,
though circumstances scream their loudest
to convince me that what is seen and known in this time frame
is all that ever will be
and that despair would be a more logical choice than hope.
Yes, joy is freedom from the shackles
that circumstances would place on my mind and emotions.
It is freedom to feel all that that I feel,
understanding that what I feel is not always related to “what is in the larger frame”
but determined more by my limited view and perceptions here and now.
Happiness and joy may present themselves in the same time frame,
but happiness absconds when things are not as she would like.
Joy has the ability to “stick around” when things are difficult,
confidently and maturely waiting to be shown
how all will be fitted together
to show God's mighty hand, reveal His wisdom, and bring Him honor and glory!
Joy is evidence that I am harmonizing with God
while happiness is often pleasure with my own performance or that of those around me.
~ Prayer ~
God, keep us seeking to know You and Your Word better.
Thanks for recording the ways You've worked in past “impossible” situations
to show Your heart of love for us,
Your attentive care when You've seemed absent.
Thanks for Your ability to see beyond the frequent focus of our eyes,
for Your victory over death.
Help us to harmonize our voices with Yours
rather than delighting in our own efforts
and applauding only what pleases us.
Amen
Twila Charles Leichty
May 18, 2010
“one of the most significant hallmarks of God's people”
(according to Phillip Keller, author of A Gardner Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit).
Not dependent on what's happening in my life or the world around me,
not determined by the behaviors of others or my emotions,
joy is a visible indication of God “at work.”
It is indication that I believe God is who He says that He is,
that I believe that He is a faithful God and that He keeps all His promises,
regardless of what is currently happening.
It is a deep awareness that God is present, though I do not see Him,
that He is at work even when I fail to understand what He is doing.
This gives my life a stability that enables me to continue on;
it produces a settledness, a confidence that God's hand is working,
though circumstances scream their loudest
to convince me that what is seen and known in this time frame
is all that ever will be
and that despair would be a more logical choice than hope.
Yes, joy is freedom from the shackles
that circumstances would place on my mind and emotions.
It is freedom to feel all that that I feel,
understanding that what I feel is not always related to “what is in the larger frame”
but determined more by my limited view and perceptions here and now.
Happiness and joy may present themselves in the same time frame,
but happiness absconds when things are not as she would like.
Joy has the ability to “stick around” when things are difficult,
confidently and maturely waiting to be shown
how all will be fitted together
to show God's mighty hand, reveal His wisdom, and bring Him honor and glory!
Joy is evidence that I am harmonizing with God
while happiness is often pleasure with my own performance or that of those around me.
~ Prayer ~
God, keep us seeking to know You and Your Word better.
Thanks for recording the ways You've worked in past “impossible” situations
to show Your heart of love for us,
Your attentive care when You've seemed absent.
Thanks for Your ability to see beyond the frequent focus of our eyes,
for Your victory over death.
Help us to harmonize our voices with Yours
rather than delighting in our own efforts
and applauding only what pleases us.
Amen
Twila Charles Leichty
May 18, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment