Sometimes it is the simple things that save us from a season of great devour.

We can find ourselves in such bad space and we can not comprehend what took us there.

We recognize that our lives are free of massive negative issues …. but we, nonetheless, feel depleted and dry on the inside. We know that we are struggling and yet we really do not see why we are in such a state.

We feel the underlying tension, we see the negative impact that this brings into our lives, and we know that we need to right our hearts and somehow find a way to “bring back the new again”.

Seek Joy … And See Renewal Become A Reality

Is it possible that securing joy in our hearts could heal our wounded spirits?

Jennifer Deibel certainly believes so and, in her article, “5 Verses to Renew Your Joy”, she speaks to the heart of this reality.

She opens her narrative with this, “Sometimes I feel like I’m failing because I’m not joyful all the time. “This was written to me by a friend of mine in a Facebook message, but I could have written it myself. So, I began a journey of searching the Scriptures for what they have to say about joy. I really wanted to get beyond the really popular verses that are so easy for my mind to glaze over out of familiarity (even though they are still living and active!) to new words that might challenge my preconceived notions of what joy looks, feels, and sounds like.”

What Jennifer discovered in her moment of despair should become our desired destination as well.

I know that at times we need someone to talk with us … I cherish my valued friends who choose to be with me on my life journey. I lean on them, and they always come through. It is true that, “two are better than one”.

However, it is and always will be the living Word of God that can bring us to places of deep renewal like we have never known. His Word speaks life over us and into us.

Seek Joy … And See Renewal Become A Reality

Jennifer also highlights a tremendous spiritual discipline that we will want to put in play as well.

Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

This reminder to us is so critical.

It will always be the whispers of wisdom and life that God speaks into our hearts that will carry us far.

Jennifer shared an encouragement that her dad used to say all the time when she was growing up, “If God isn’t your first thought of the day, He’ll be your last thought all day.”

Her counsel to us is this, “If we can take even just a few minutes to whisper a prayer to our Father and read a verse to set our hearts on Him before the chaos ensues, things will go much smoother.”

Such great counsel for us to consider!

Seek Joy … And See Renewal Become A Reality

Jennifer concludes her article with these words, Finally, friend, I want to leave you with a prayer of blessing over you and your family, from His Word and my heart to yours: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

These words touched my heart and my hope and prayer is that they will touch your heart as well.

-Terry-

2022 THEME
Christ Above, Christ Alone, Christ In All … This Is Our Anthem; This Is Our Call