enjoying life

i came across this scripture and think it is amazing - i’m totally adding it to my life verse list…”Jesus came enjoying life.”  Matthew 11:19 (Phillips).  if He did, then we should… right?  most people i know don’t really seem to enjoy life.  i know i don’t always enjoy life - maybe i enjoy life 65% or 75% of the time, but not all the time.  i think the pressures of life, relationship drama, money issues, career stuff, kids and other responsibilities seem to (at times) suck the joy out of life.  when you look at the life of Christ, it is obvious that He joyfully kept moving forward (and doing God’s will) regardless of the circumstances He faced.  Jesus never had a bad day.  i think He saw each day as a gift - as an opportunity to enthusiastically reach people and change lives.   i’m convinced that the joy He had is what gave Him the strength to love and lift others everywhere He went. 

“The joy of God is your strength!”  Nehemiah 8:10b (MSG).  where do we get the joy of God?  the answer is revealed in Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”  taking time in the secret place (anywhere when it is just you and God) everyday is what allows God’s Spirit to fill us with joy and to infuse inner strength into us.  when this life ends and all the pressures and challenges we have to deal with quickly fade away, we hope to hear, “well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of our Lord.”  why not go ahead and enter into that joy right now!  take a minute and cast every care, weight and anxiety on God.  ”God is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”  I peter 5:7 (msg).  

“the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 13:52.  ask God to fill you up with joy, ask him to help you to start enjoying life.  ”but the fruit of the Spirit is… JOY!”  galatians 5:22.  ”my brother and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy.”  james 1:2.  everyday is a day that God has made and He tells us to rejoice and be glad in it.  we all have days when nothing seems to go our way, but if we choose to respond joyfully, no matter how bad it gets - we can always enjoy life and trust that God is in control.

i pray that you start enjoying life regardless of what you are having to face in your life right now.  may God fill you with joy and grant you unlimited strength.