I listen to music a lot here. I'm on my computer for the stuff I'm working on just now, so have my iTunes bubbling away in the background the whole time. New guy I've never listened to is Jon Foreman, don't know anything about him, apart from I love his music! My favourite song from his fall/winter album is White as Snow. It's a great piece of music, and the lyrics are beautiful. They have inspired me for my next blog entry, which is taking on a slightly more serious feel this time. No rockstar aviators and hot singers in this one. (note to self: go and check if Jon Foreman is a hottie)
So in the chorus of the song, the lyrics say
Would You create in me a clean heart, oh God Restore in me the joy of my salvation
Yeah so the "restore in me" part has been on my heart some this afternoon and into the evening. I checked the dictionary definition for restore: to bring back or return something previously stolen, taken away or lost.
Looking at joy makes me think about my friends. Most of you will be well aware that when my friends and I get going, the laughter can go on for a long time. Now I have a good laugh with all of my friends, but a special mention needs to be given to Poppy, who I have laughed hard with for over ten years now. One of the funniest things we did, which is so immature, but I'm going to write it anyway was one year when we were maybe 15 and 16 and we were in St. Andrews at a christian event for a week in the summer. (I'll just mention here that as well as laughing together, we also had intense arguments, ridiculous fallouts and an immeasurable level of stropping in between!) Anyway, we sat on a bench outside of Sue Ryder charity shop for hours throwing sticky Berties ( the little blue man in liquorice allsorts) on the ground and nearly dying of laughter when some poor person, who never did anything against us got one stuck on their shoe and carried Bertie off into another part of town. I know you had to be there, I quite agree but this is something that we can still get carried away with and laugh about. So yes, there is much joy with Poppy. Thank you Popadom :)
But anyway, the joy that comes from the Lord is different. It goes deeper and breaks down walls in our hearts. It gives us His strength to do life, even when it gets a bit tough. It's a pretty special gift, and needs to be guarded. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. And taking someone's joy sounds like a good way to start an attack to me. We carry joy in our hearts, where we carry all of our feelings. We are called to guard our hearts, but I can't remember the last time I thought to check my heart was guarded. Oops. Not guarding our hearts it like opening ourselves up to all of the elements coming towards us. Yes, of course our hearts should be open for Him, to receive His promises, His precious words, His calls and convictions. He will never bring any harm to us. But there is the enemy ready to give too. Always ready to give out the bad things. And I've been leaving the door wide open for him! Time to start closing it and giving God the key.
Being joyful is a choice though. And every morning when I wake up, I try and remember to be joyful in whatever will come my way today.It's getting easier, and I am beginning to see the bigger picture (God) a lot more as I let Him take centre stage in my life, rather than myself. (Although I do still like to take to the spotlight every so often) I have definitely been surprised and very thankful when I find myself checking before I launch into my (wrong) words and actions recently. Sometimes I stop and think "Are we actually going through this all over again God?" I thought I'd got the christian lifestyle sussed out by now, but it seems like God is taking me back to the basics again. But that can only be a good thing right?
Now I can see that I have indeed been getting robbed by the enemy, but so subtly that I didn't even know it was happening. Now I'm left standing here with not very much to fight with. It's like being a soldier who joined the army, got all of his gear and training and weapons and after travelling to the battle, finds himself standing there with nothing in his hands, and nothing in his backpack. Crap.
However, the good news is that everything, including my joy can be restored, thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus, that you died so that I could live, and live a full, rich, abundant life with everything I need! Now I am praying that God would make me a bit like Joshua. Taking the land and claiming it as I walk upon it. Apart from instead of land, it's my story with Christ. As I walk with Him, I will claim every new discovery and gift as a present from Him, as my inheritance as his daughter. And I'll hold fast to them! Guarding my heart and letting God watch my back.
When I think about Him, I am almost swept away. It makes me wish I did it more regularly....like everyday. But that's another choice. Hmmm decisions decisions..........
"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses......as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Joshua 1
No comments:
Post a Comment