Tuesday; June 4

Have you noticed the lengths to which we will go to protect our stuff?  We have zippers on our pockets, locks on our cars, security systems in our homes and passwords on our phones.  We do everything we can to keep our stuff our stuff!  It would be inconceivable to walk around with money sticking our of our pockets and it is ill-advised to leave our prized possessions out in the open for someone to take.  If we really like something, we’ll do our part to protect it.
The reason for this statement of the obvious is to question why we are so willing to put our joy at risk.  We have been blessed by God with something so valuable as joy, but we seem to be tempted to allow others to take it from us.  We see what others have and our lust robs us of our joy.  We listen to the whining and fussing of the world and we allow other people’s negativity to steal our joy.  We become so wrapped up in the cares of the world that we allow our anxiety to strip us of our joy.  What would happen if we protected our joy as tightly as we do our possessions?  There is no reason that we should be careless with the joy and happiness that comes with living the abundant life!
King David reminded us, “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” (Psalm 32:11).  We have been promised the richness of joy – are we willing to protect it?
          Think About It!

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