If you come to visit in my home, you will see many items around my house that have the word JOY on them. They are reminders of how I want to live my life. Years ago at a Ladies Inspiration Day, the speaker talked about JOY. She said that if we put Jesus first, Others second, and Youself last, we will exhibit JOY to all those who cross our paths. This lesson really touched my heart. Number one, it made me look at how self-centered I really was. I gave lip service to putting Jesus first, but at that point in my life, Jesus got the leftovers. I tried to do for others, but only if it was convenient for me. Pretty much, I was mostly me centered. I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it, and would get pretty upset if things did not go my way.
I love how God has a way of slapping me with a dose of reality. I love that He does not leave me in my delusion that I am the center of my universe. Through some very painful, eye opening experiences, God showed me that it is not all about me, and that if I truly want to experience JOY , I had to put Him in the center of my life, and come to see others as He sees them, and relegate me to end of the line.
Do I still get out of focus? You bet I do. If I start fretting and feeling like I am living in chaos, it usually means I have become very self consumed. It means I have taken my eyes off of Him and off those hurting around me. I love Hebrews 12:2. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I want this verse to be at the forefront of my one year to live. I do not want to be self consumed. I want to be Jesus consumed, and through Him be consumed with a mindfulness of the lost and hurting around me, and with His love and guidance and speaking the truth in love, show others the JOY that comes from knowing Him and having a deep, personal relationship with Him. He is the true source of JOY. May I always remember that.
Peace,
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