I mean, when I began asking God for His peace and JOY, I just never anticipated anything like this! I've tried for YEARS to grasp the whole "joy of the LORD" thing... YEARS. But suddenly... without warning, I asked, and I RECEIVED. Surely in the past my heart wasn't prepared for this joy. I promise you, if you're not ready for it, you can't receive it. Because it WILL change your life! I walk around with a song of thanksgiving in my heart. I feel completely transformed. I feel like a NEW WOMAN. Doesn't God promise us that the old (wo)man will pass away, and we will be a new creation? (2 Cor. 5:17)
Want to know what's crazy? I do NOT miss that old woman! AT ALL! I'm so happy with this new woman. Even in the midst of a financial crisis that, while is not as bad as it was before, is still very REAL, I am so HAPPY! My marriage is better than it's ever been, I am so ENAMORED with my hubby.... I have more patience with my children.... I have such a larger capacity to LOVE than I ever thought imaginable. This is ALL HIM, my friends. There's no way my begrudging heart is capable of this type of joy and love on its own!
There's this "song" in my heart. I can't get it out. Even being so sick and so BROKE can't get rid of it! It goes a little something like this:
Psalm 28:7 NLT
The LORD is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
I want to encourage each of you to continue seeking His joy and strength! It's there, but your heart has to be prepared to accept it. That means being willing to SUBMIT your heart, soul, mind, and body to the One who created them all. The One who created YOU, to be something very special for Him. Ask God to show you anything in your life that doesn't please Him, and to cleanse you of that. But you have to MEAN it! Don't hold on to it... you have to be willing to let it ALL go! Lay it ALL on the altar! Make this your prayer:
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 51:7-12 NLT
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
But again, don't utter this prayer until you're ready to ANTE UP and allow God to change you. It's bigger than anything you could ever imagine for yourself. You won't WANT to go back to the old you once you do it! I guess when God lead me to this journey, He knew I was ready for the next step. I had finally reached the point that I was sick of ME, and ready to be more like HIM! I leave you with a song, one that I learned even as a young child through a worship chorus, and it has been my "go-to" since when things get tough:
Down In My Heart
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart,
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart to stay.
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
(down in my heart)
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart,
I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart to stay.
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
(down in my heart)
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
I've got the peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart,
I've got the peace that passes understanding,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart to stay!
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
(down in my heart)
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
I've got the wonderful love of my precious redeemer,
Way down in the depths of my heart,
Down in my heart, (where?)
Down in my heart, (where?)
I've got the wonderful love of my precious redeemer,
Way down in the depths of my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
(down in my heart)
And I'm so happy, so very happy
I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
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