It's been one of those weeks. Every day has seen me out of the house much earlier than normal. Between work and helping at the local kitten/cat shelter, the days have been long and full. I like the the shelter stuff, work is a necessary evil. LOL But with this activity comes tiredness. And with tiredness comes laziness. Understandable. When we are really busy, the times we do get to sit for a bit, we don't want to move or think or anything. So I make an excuse on break or lunch not to spend time in Bible study or prayer. I tell myself, I'm not up to it, I can't think and won't retain anything anyway. Which all may be true in my human strength, but I am leaving God out of the picture.
I have a plan for the day regarding time spent with the Lord. I want to take mini-breaks when I am working, a little time on my breaks and lunch to spend with Him, to reconnect, dig in and just be in His Presence. But when I am tired I get lazy. I go for the easy, just reading a novel. Nothing wrong with closing one's eyes for a bit or taking a relax time.....but not to the neglect my "God time."
So back to the title of connecting with joy. Of course with all this busy, tired and lazy, my joy level was in the pit. (Honestly I think numbness was my favorite emotion this week). But I did read a verse that got that larger than life, see it for the first time vibe and as I've been thinking about it, I realized, when I don't take time to connect with the Lord throughout the day I lose my joy, I lose strength, I lose peace. Hebrews 1:9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. Jesus has more joy than anyone else! And what is our job? John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Do I want to see the fruit of joy in my life? Remain in Jesus. Connect. Connect. Connect! Stay in touch! If I don't take the time to be with Jesus, I become anemic in my walk with God. Joy seeps away, and strength falters.
I love the quiet stretch of the morning when I get to spend a nice amount of time with the Lord. I find peace, I learn, I grow, I find contentment in His Presence. But I can't live in that place, I have to join the world outside my bedroom door. I need time to purposely reconnect throughout the day....seek Him deliberately in moments of solitude. Then I connect to His joy and all the other fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! It's so important and making excuses just robs us of the joy of being with Jesus. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Lord, forgive me for my excuses. Forgive me for forgetting that You are my strength, even when I'm to tired to think, and help me to remember no time spent with You or Your Word is wasted. No matter the exhaustion, no matter the numbness, You are a fruit producing God. Lord, let me and all of us understand the importance of taking those few minutes with you throughout the day...purposeful reconnecting and deliberate seeking. It's how we stay in Jesus. Help each of us through our day today. Bless us with Your enduring Presence. In Jesus joyous Name. Amen.
Take the time!
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