Fighting for JOY!!

In the last couple of weeks I've been reminded of the Scripture in John 10:10 that says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." I've had an interesting few weeks personally. It's been a little tough and at times, a bit emotional and at times that's how I've felt...the enemy has been trying to steal from me. He was trying to steal my joy! And he almost succeeded...but thankfully, I worship a BIG God...!! But, it happens so easily doesn't it? Everything seems to be going so right and God seems to be at work in your life, and before you knnow it you are in some way being attacked. Ever questioned God about that? I have! And God answered with two words...be proactive!!

It's so easy to hand everything over to God and leave it there and not think about it...but have you ever noticed that sometimes things don't happen as you imagined they should have? Ask yourself this: "What have I done in this? Have I been proactive in helping my situation?" God doesn't want you to just give Him all your stuff and then walk away and expect roses and an easy life served on a silver platter. He gives you the means to help yourself. Yes, He walks beside you as you do it! Yes, He holds your hand. Yes, He helps you to do it. But if He did it ALL for you, you would learn nothing and you would never grow! James 1 says that when you face trials and temptations and testing you need to persevere...because if you can do that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything!

So, how can you be proactive? Well, you're all going to be different. These are just things that have helped me...but from the start I'll say, keep an open mind and find the way that you best connect with God and go with that...cause it's not about doing what someone else does just because it worked for them...it's about having a real connection with God...make it personal!!

1. A whole day sitting with God! Listening...waiting...receiving... Have you ever thought of doing that and not had the time? Have you ever wanted to hang out with a friend for the day and then felt disappointed that they could have, but didn't make the time? Imagine how God feels when we find everything else to do and our day becomes so busy that we don't have time for Him? You know I think the last thing I want to hear anyone ever say to me is 'Sorry, I don't have time for you!' Can you relate to that? How would you feel if someone you loved with all your heart said that to you? Spending a whole day with God is a discipline...don't expect it to be easy...but you'll never know if you don't try! Start small...make it a half day! But whatever you do don't neglect that time you could be spending with God!! Make a point of doing it! Open your diary, choose a day you will stick to (it doesn't necessarily have to be something you do weekly...it could be something you do once a month...to spend a whole day talking to and hearing from God!)cross that day out of your diary...put a big FAT line through it! DON'T GO BACK ON IT! Commit to that day! You just don't know how big the blessings are going to be in doing it...and it may come on the day, or in the days and weeks after doing it...just stay open!

2. Hand your life to God - DAILY! This is something we so often take for granted. Once we give our lives to God He takes us and cares for us. But let me make something clear...first of all, God will ALWAYS honour your decision and committment to follow Him! And, nothing we do will ever be enough to get us to Heaven...we're not perfect! It doesn't matter how many hours you spend a week having devotions...reading your Bible...praying...it doesn't matter how many times in one day you share Jesus with people...what matters is how real and how deep your devotion to God really is! How often do you devote your life to God? Now this doesn't mean that you get on your knees everyday and pray 'Jesus, come into my heart today!' cause He's already there. But what it does mean is that you get on your knees every morning and pray 'God, this is YOUR day...I want YOUR will to be done in my day! I commit this day and my all to you TODAY!' Because everyday is a new day...it's a fresh start! You have another day here that you can be using for God! If you don't intentionally commit that day to Him then you risk making that day about you! At the end of everyday, end it on your knees praising God for everything He did in your day...for the blessings AND the trials! Remember, the trials are making us stronger! Praise Him for that! And also make that time a time when you can repent for the mistakes you might have made during the day! Hand your life over DAILY!

3. Sing some praise! This became something important to me in the last few weeks. I felt like I'd been served a few raw deals and it's been such an emotional roller coaster at times. But every night and every morning I've poured out my heart, my fears, my anxieties, my disappointments, my hurts...everything...to God. Then I spent time praising Him in song! I've had that old hymn stuck in my head that I'm sure you all know from Sister Act 2, 'His eye is on the sparrow' I've been singing it over and over..."Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel lonely, and long for Heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion...my constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow...and I know He watches me! I sing because I'm happy...and I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow...and I know He watches me!" Puts everything in perspective huh? That song has spoken to me in so many ways in this last few weeks. The biggest thing that I've felt God say to me is 'I am CONSTANT!' That was so important for me to remember because in my life SO many people have let me down! I've been hurt...abused...used! I've been treated like absolute rubbish! But I know that I have a friend called Jesus who is CONSTANT! He is unchanging...He is ALWAYS there...He will NEVER fail me...He will NEVER hurt me...He will NEVER disappoint me! He is constant! I have to sing and praise Him for that! And I have to praise Him because someone else was touched by God and wrote those words all those years ago and when I don't know how else to express it that song is there and I can make that my prayer...find a song that speaks to you and make it your prayer! Let it speak to you! Make it your heartfelt act of worship to Him! Don't stay discouraged!

If you knew someone was trying to steal from you...break into your house...pick your pocket...slip money out of your bag when you weren't watching, you wouldn't let them do it would you? You'd call for help or you'd chase them and stop them! So, if you know that the enemy...satan...is trying to steal from you (and he almost always will be) then be proactive! Call on God for help! Chase the enemy away! Don't sit there and wait for it to happen...ask God FIRST for His help...then grab hold of His hand and run and fight WITH Him! Don't let satan steal your joy!!