06.16.22

Do you feel like you are on the hamster wheel of life? Do the days pass
without meaning and just form a jumble of time? Have the “blues” taken up
residence in your life? I think for a lot of people the expectation of living in a
post COVID world (I’m not sure we are there, or ever will be) has been
disappointing. The struggle, while in the midst of the pandemic, created a
yearning for better days ahead. Now we are disappointed that what we
were longing for has not come close to meeting our expectations. What we
thought was light at the end of the tunnel is really a train barreling full
speed towards us with no place to get out of its way.

This all sounds depressing, doesn’t it? The truth is that living life in “real
time” is not always filled with happiness; but let me remind you that joy is
available! The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi commands
them (and us) to “Always be full of joy in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:4) I know
many of you are wondering how that is possible in light of the situations or
circumstances that are enveloping you at this moment. Notice that Paul’s
command is to be full of joy in the Lord. Our joy is in Jesus, our Savior,
and is not contingent upon anything else. It is interesting that Paul penned
this command while he was under house arrest while being chained to a
Roman guard. This command also follows Paul’s concern about a relational
divide within the church in Philippi between two women. Was Paul actually
serious about being filled with joy even in the midst of such difficult
circumstances? I believe he was serious because he gives an avenue to
remain in the joy of Jesus even through the most difficult times. Paul states
that joy is a choice we make and that we are to “fix our thoughts,” a
conscious choice, “on what is true, and honorable, and right, and lovely,
and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Where are you fixing your thoughts? I sometimes need to simply
redirect my thought life in order to claim the joy available in Christ. Today
as you consider pausing at noon to Bend-A-Knee in prayer, may you take
advantage of entering God’s Throne Room of Grace and fix your thoughts
on the Creator God. It is hard to remain enveloped in “the blues” when you
are praising and worshipping the Author and Finisher of your Faith. Allow
the majesty of God to permeate your being and lift you out of the doldrums
of life and open your eyes to “God sightings” that are available every day, if
we read just our focus. May you actually Bend-A-Knee today and
reestablish your relationship with God and watch as He allows you to
access the joy found in Jesus.

Stay connected to God & to others

God’s Peace
Pastor Mike