God, Teach Me to Have Joy

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thessalonians 5:18

For the longest time, I didn't know how to have fullness of joy.  It was almost like I didn't know how to be happy simply "being" me everyday. If I wasn't working on some new endeavor, some goal, or I didn't have some new adventure before me, I felt like something was wrong with me. It's not that I like being this way, but I didn't know how to be different.  As a matter of fact, God spoke to me about being in a new season of favor  and guess what, I began to ruin it with murmuring and complaining about what wasn't right in my life or what was still lacking.  Nevertheless, God kept speaking and pushing me along.  I asked Him, Please teach me to have joy in simply "being." Teach me joy in the everyday tasks of life and even in the not-so-exciting times.  He spoke ever so gently (as always) and replied, The key to having joy is being thankful for what you have and being thankful for those things that make you feel most uncomfortable.

What?????  Ok,  Lord, I get being thankful for the good things, but I also have to be thankful for the yucky things?  You mean I have to be thankful for the disagreement I just had with someone, the fact that I don't have any extra money to spend this month, the fact that my ankle  is still feeling injured, the fact that I'm still plugging away at school after so many years,  that I'm still adjusting to recent changes in my life, and the fact that I'm always so exhausted?  Hmm.  Sounds kind of hard Lord.  

Yes, April, he replied.  He continued, There is power in thanksgiving.  There is power is your daily proclamations.  Exchange your murmurings for thanksgiving and watch me work. 

So my journey started and it wasn't easy.  Every morning I got up and I began to thank God for the good and the bad.  Instead of complaining that I was exhausted after work,  I spoke to God and said, Lord, I'm so grateful for the rest that you've given me.  Instead of complaining that I had so much homework, I instead said, Lord, thank you for letting me return to school to get my Masters. I know not everyone has this privilege.  Instead of complaining about my disagreements with people,  I instead said, God, thank you for putting that person in my life to help me grow as a person. They are blessing me and challenging me to be a better person.  

I am so serious when I say that this attitude of thankfulness changed my life and continues to do so. I don't feel so tired anymore, I'm not so sensitive anymore, I feel more financially blessed than ever before, my health is improving, and I smile more than ever. I wish I knew this secret a long, long, long time ago.  There is such peace and joy in my life like never before.  Now, I want to invite you to join me in sharing in it.  But watch out because once you start, you are going to see the blessings of God pour out on you like never before.  So many times, we want to know God's will for our lives, but the Bible clearly tells us what His will is, "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (I Thessalonians 5:18). So the real question is, are you ready?  If so, then repeat after me, Lord, thank you so much for  _________________ (you fill in the blank).

On a side note, I created a "thankfulness" jar and every time I receive a blessing or God speaks to me in some way or another, I record it on a piece of a paper, fold it, and put it in the jar.  My plan is to open the jar on New Year's Eve of 2013 and review all the blessings that God has poured into my life throughout the year.  I can't wait!  

Passionate about your spiritual success,

April