30Thrive

You may never have noticed that God commands you to have certain emotions.  We’re used to Him commanding our actions, attitudes, and thoughts, but sometimes don’t realize our emotions are under His jurisdiction as well.  Can we help what we feel?  Are we obligated to produce certain feelings for God?  Yes and Yes!

Rejoice means to feel great delight.  At times we have plenty of delight in our Lord but then it fades quickly at the slightest threat of discomfort, opposition, or stress.  Think about the last time you genuinely rejoiced in the Lord.  How long was it before you lost your great delight in Him?  

Our biggest barrier to rejoicing is our worldly paradigm.  We are ever forgetting that the spiritual realm is more real than the physical one.  The physical realities of pain and disappointment cast dark shadows over the spiritual realities of life and victory.  Like all other spiritual issues, the battle is in the mind and intentional effort is paramount to victory.  The fuel for rejoicing is found in the truths of Scripture. There are ample verses in the Bible that, when taken to heart, quickly supply great delight in Christ, so we’re not without ammunition.  Most of us, however, are without skill or the habit of discipline.  

Let’s talk about skill.  Quote 5 verses that instantly give you great delight in the Lord.  This should be easy assuming our extensive exposure to God’s Word, but so few Christians actually memorize Scripture.  Start now.  Choose 2 verses, write them on a note card and begin to meditate on them.  To meditate is to chew on the meaning in your mind repeatedly till the concepts are deeply embedded in your heart and the words easily come to mind.  When you meditate, memorization happens naturally.  Place your note cards somewhere you frequent – your dashboard, mirror, window sill above the kitchen sink.  I keep mine on my treadmill to meditate on while I run.  It’s hard to read when you run so I use very large font on half sheets of paper.  Without fail, I always leave my workout with a heart full of love and joy for my Savior.  The Word of God is living and active!!

That leaves the habit of discipline.  To continue a habit requires completely different ingredients than starting one.  You have to have resolve and accountability and guts.  Look at yourself in the mirror and ask, “Are you going to stay this way forever or are you serious about changing?” Weigh the pros and cons.  Convince yourself to work hard at cooperating with the change God is trying to bring about in you.  Then write a few goals, a simple plan to follow on a daily basis.  If you meditated on God’s Word and prayed to Him every day for as little as 30 minutes, your life would transform!!  You have to try it!!  Then tell someone your plan that has the heart and care to ask you about it regularly.  Lastly, when life squeezes you hard to drop your plan, beg God for strength and step out in faith.  James 4:8 says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  Notice who’s to take the first step.  You are!  

Pray with me:  “Lord, there are a million plus reasons why I should take great delight in You but I often don’t.  I confess this and am deeply sorry.  I am wrong for putting this world’s circumstances first in my heart and mind.  I want to make a change.  Help me to establish a doable plan to meditate on Your Word and pray to You every day.  I do rejoice in You because You have rescued me from the pit and crowned me with loving kindness!  And for a million more reasons, I love You!  Thank You for all Your involvement in my life.  I want to be on Your page and cooperate with Your agenda.  Change me.  Use me.  Amen.”