Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 19, 2017
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
This morning I took out the trash and got a kick out of it. In fact, it gave me great joy. I know that must sound weird, but I really liked doing it, and here’s why: Monday is trash day and each week my husband faithfully gathers it up from all of our waste baskets, and hauls it to the curb. Except today. Today he isn’t feeling well. He’s upstairs sleeping off a nasty cold. But rather than wake him, I decided to bless him and take out the trash myself.
This little act done in love brought me joy. In fact, when I hauled that big ol’ can to the street, a happy song sprang into my heart.
This reminded me how anyone can experience joy every single day. We need to do two things: Think like God thinks and act like God acts. When we think like God thinks and act like God acts, we agree with Him and that will fill anyone’s joy bucket.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is. . . joy. . .” (Galatians 5:22).
In the commentary section of my Life Application Study Bible, it says, “The fruit of the Spirit are by-products as we give Christ control.” In short, where the Lord rules and reigns, there are all the fruits of the spirit, including joy.
Joy can be experienced every day in hundreds of tiny ways we align our thoughts and actions with the Holy Spirit and God’s desire for our lives each moment.
We take out the trash because it’s God’s heart for us to serve.
We overlook an offense because it’s God’s heart to forgive.
We choose not to complain because it’s God’s heart to rejoice.
When we agree with God and we align our thoughts and actions with His, joy follows.
And just as there are hundreds of ways to experience joy, as we agree with Him and act like Him each moment, there are hundreds of ways to lose joy. Some thoughts and actions will drain our joy bucket because we aren’t allowing Him to rule and reign in our lives.
We don’t take out the trash when we know we should.
We grumble and complain when we know we shouldn’t.
We gossip rather than keep confidences.
We hold a grudge instead of forgive.
We tell ourselves we are unloved or not worth forgiving when we know it isn’t true.
So, here’s the bottom line: You have 1,440 minutes in the next 24 hours. How can you think like God thinks and act like He acts this very moment to experience joy?
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).
Prayer
Lord, thank you that following you isn’t complicated. Help me to keep in step with you, and think like you think and act like you act, one moment at a time, to experience your joy. Thank you for loving me, Lord. Amen.Application
Focus on thinking like God thinks and acting like God acts moment by moment. Obey Him, then note how you felt in your journal or on a piece of paper. Finally, reflect at the end of the day.Related Reading
Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 1:8-9; Proverbs 15:23Post/Tweet today
Where the Lord rules and reigns, there are all the fruits of the spirit, including joy! #WisdomHunters #dailyjoyWorship Resource
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