Pure Joy

If you read my post from earlier in the month, “‘Not so’ Happy Mother’s Day,” I think you could see how uncharacteristic it was of me.  I normally do not vent like I did, at least not to anyone but God. I’m always happy to tell of joy, but when it comes to pain I don’s go public unless I’ve found the rainbow. But if nothing else comes of that post, you can know I am a real person with real, ongoing battles. 

I heard a sermon that talked about how when we have a problem, it always means the promised land is waiting for us just on the other side. Like following in Biblical pattern the Israelites were promised victory moving into the Promised Land, by one battle at a time.  And that is why we know we can rejoice in the process, as the victory for each step of the way is promised. That is a pretty amazing insight.

James 1:2-3 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

There is victory on the other side, you will have won a battle and moved further into claiming your inheritance.  That’s a win-win and worth a little bit of combat with the enemy to take hold of what is rightfully yours. The victory may not look exactly like what you imagine, but surely it’s worth it in the end.  How do you develop a victory mindset?

I was in a conference and the name of it had to do with a word for fire.  On the third day of the conference when our speaker was being announced, I smelled smoke.  I sort of glanced around me to see if anyone else smelled it wondering if there was something to be alarmed about. Everyone was just watching the stage.  I smiled to myself and thought, wow that’s pretty cool because where there is smoke there is fire.  I didn’t think about it too much, just sort of smiled knowing God can do anything.  When I got home and crawled into bed while I was thinking about the course of the day, I smelled smoke again.  No one in my house was smoking, the windows weren’t open and there it was again, the smell of smoke

I remembered how Paul told Timothy to fan his faith into flames.

2 Timothy 6:5-6 - I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

He fully had my attention when I smelled smoke for the second time, so how do you fan smoke into flames?  Well, in the natural you give it oxygen, and it ignites and spreads the fire.  But how do you do it in the spiritual?  Rejoice, pray and be thankful in all circumstances. By doing these things you are breathing Him in, providing the very element needed to accelerate the fire. Basically we are as close to Him as our next breath proving once again it is not in those bigger than life moments when you try to measure your success but in the peaceful, intimate closeness when your chest rises and falls with each breath. That’s where the real preparation takes place, building your faith, fanning it into flames, so you can walk out and heal the leper.  It is just so completely opposite of what I think might work, that it is actually brilliant!

Every breath is watering and nurturing the seed planted inside of us.  I used to think it was tears that watered the seeds but now I think it is the breathing in of the Spirit into my lungs, surrounded by peace and joy, thus creating the most life-giving environment to produce fruit.

As I go about my every day routine and I choose joy over aggravation, and choose to see the victory over the battle, I am growing up in the Lord, waiting for those “great” moments. I know they are only possible because of the seed planted while seemingly nothing was taking place. Those times when there is no big fanfare, no accolades of honor, no applause; just Jesus and I breathing together, fanning faith into flames.