JOy - Week Three

The battle for Joy is not passive! With unknown futures for many, solutions still unsolved, and needs waiting to be met; anxiety looms at many of our doors. And anxiety steals joy. I do not think it is an accident that the season of Advent contains themes such as Hope and Peace before Joy. Because these are gifts, fruits growing out of cultivating and deepening our relationship with the Father, and hope and peace make their home internally in us, creating a vital atmosphere for joy to exist.   
Unfortunately for many, we cannot serve our way to joy, because joy is not dependent on our circumstances; that would be happiness, because the battlefield for joy does not take place primarily in our actions. We cannot plan or organize our way to joy, because these actions are external, self-created, self-maintained and without our heavenly Father. This is often exhausting and lonely!  Deep joy only comes from our relationship with the Father and from our investment in knowing Him. From experiencing the faithfulness and trustworthiness of His character that comes from giving Him control of our lives and partnering with His plans. Yes, here is the battlefield.  
But here also is the victory! As we learn we can trust God, we begin to relax, and here... here dear ones, the fruit of relationship with Him creates an incredibly beautiful space for joy to rise within us! It is a fruit born out of vulnerability, humility and dependance, on God that we cannot create ourselves; it rises within us, born out of a deepening knowledge and experience of who our heavenly Father is. And with that joy can come such gratitude for the gift of Jesus’ life and sacrifice allowing us this intimate experience of the Father’s love.  
Father, I give You today, my thoughts and my heart. I give You my decisions and the unknown. Thank you that You go before me today. Thank you for Your gentleness and love for me as I learn to be vulnerable and dependant on You.