#write31days | October 26

TGIF!  I don’t know about you, but this week has seemed exceptionally long. On Tuesday night I thought surely it was Thursday night! Fortunately, not too many weeks feel like that for me, but this one has for whatever reason. However, it is Friday and that means the weekend! Which is forecasted to include days of sunshine and I am thrilled for that after so. many. rainy. days. in September and October!

I was thinking, sometimes in the midst of long weeks or the mundane or tons of rainy days we still have to find a way to experience JOY in our lives!  Sometimes, this can be just as much of a discipline as all of the other disciplines I have written about.  And, in some seasons choosing JOY is a discipline we have to choose to #doitagain. Maybe simple recognition of gratitude or being able to rest brings joy. My love language is quality time and when I am able to spend time with my people, I always find JOY, in time spent together.  A simple hand written note brings me JOY.  Even a Friday morning donut treat can bring JOY to my day!

I don’t know what it is for you that brings you JOY.
Spend some time identifying those things, and recognize the times of JOY in your life.
The times to laugh really hard until you can’t breathe.
The simple things that make your heart happy.

I can hardly think of the word JOY without thinking of this verse…

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: 1b-2

The ultimate JOY we will ever know is because of Jesus. Death on the cross.  He endured for you and me. It is hard for me to equate JOY with this verse of scripture.  The Amplified Bible is written as “who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal]“.  His JOY was to accomplish the goal. Ultimately to take on my sin and yours. Because of that endurance we can find JOY in the everyday. No matter how difficult our days are, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  He knows our every thought, desire, dream, hurt, pain, fear and worry.  If we will surrender these things to him daily we can find JOY that can only consistently come from the hope we have in Christ.

This isn’t easy.
But, He is faithful.
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Choose JOY.
#doitagain

If you’re just joining in from #write31days, I’m so glad you’re here!
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