Day 3: Joy Down In My Heart
I've got the Joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart...
and sometimes it's so deep down I think I lost it.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." Proverbs 17:22
Head: Have you ever noticed that
people are so much more beautiful when the smile, no matter how they
smile or what their smile looks like. When people smile from deep
within their hearts, they just glow. Their eyes smile, their face
smiles and in a way their whole body smiles. I've seen some pictures of
me not smiling before and if I have the option, I hit the delete
button. No one needs to see me not smiling, it's just not pretty.
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
Heart: A few years ago in the fall I felt like I was dealing with depression. I
had never been depressed before but I felt like I was in a not so sunny
place. Yes, it was the end of fall and that probably had something to
do with it. One day in my laundry room while the washer and dryer were
busy humming and swishing and I was unhappily folding tiny undies and
way too many towels, I broke down. I was so unhappy. I wanted more in
my life than this. I wanted to have more money, get my nails down,
actually pay a beautician...I wanted some new furniture and my carpet
cleaned and a bigger car and most of all I wanted my husband to "love me
more".
I know people that have far less than I
do and are happy. They aren't depressed. They love their homes, their
cars and even they appreciate their situations. They are happy and
thankful with what some would consider meager. During my little break down I
realized that I was not just running low on joy, I was on empty. How in
the world does someone refill their life with joy? First, I prayed for
God to help me find JOY! As always, my gracious heavenly Father was
faithful and good.
I found joy and my husband loves me!
Yes! After asking for joy, God started revealing to me that I had so
much to be happy about. In finding my own joy, I was able to spread
that happiness and merriment around to my husband and my children. I
found it satisfying to fold tiny undies because my children had undies, I
found joy in folding towels, because we were blessed with many towels, I
found a since of satisfaction in scrubbing stains from our carpet
floors AND I also found that I was putting more effort into my housework
and worrying about my "wants" instead of focusing on the blessings
that I already had. It is always the case, that when I look at my
husband with joy in my heart, he extends the same favor. There is
nothing more pleasing to me than to make my husband and children smile
and laugh.
Hands: Today's challenge is in addition to
previous days of Patience and Kindness. Love is like a flower, you
can't expect it to grow without sunshine. Has your husband seen your
sunshine lately? Today you will smile. Pray for joy! If you can't pressure
your husband into loving you, you are going to have to become lovely.
He will love what is lovely to him. Just like in the beginning of your
marriage when you were giddy with love, you will begin to find joy
again. Just like the flower, you are going to cultivate his love.
As with all challenges, you need to pray. Find your closet to be alone with God . If you think you are already joyful, ask for more. In doing so, God is going to reveal to your heart the beautiful moments in your life that will bring you joy and by adding a smile to your day, your joy is going to spread like sunshine, like a light through your life.
As with all challenges, you need to pray. Find your closet to be alone with God . If you think you are already joyful, ask for more. In doing so, God is going to reveal to your heart the beautiful moments in your life that will bring you joy and by adding a smile to your day, your joy is going to spread like sunshine, like a light through your life.
oh my I started this challenge when I found it 3 days ago and I am determined to complete it, not cause my marriage is on the rocks, but because it could be better and I could use a better relationship with God. I am having a hard time right now with both patience, kindness, and now especial Joy. I just found out last night my dad (who I haven't seen or heard from in 3 years) had 2 major strokes and is in a hospital an hour and a half away alone. his mom can't get to him cause of snow and ice and i didn't leave last night cause I listened to my husband and mother saying my dad wouldn't come if it was me. Now I'm stuck at home cause of snow. I pray God looks over him and helps me to cope with it all, and that he does fill my heart with joy. cause apparently my husband doesn't have the patience to understand my sorrow, so i know that I will have to put a smile I just pray God helps me with that. Thanks for your challenge :) GOD BLESS
ReplyDeleteThank you for this devotional today it spoke to my heart more than I can express. I know I need to pray to ask God for joy. Its been awhile since I have shown my husband some sunshine. Many blessings.
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