I haven't been pausing much in the last few days. I haven't been reflecting throughout the day very much these last few days. Busy. Busy. Busy. Getting the house ready for the workman to come to get the house ready for Father-In-Law moving in.
But, oh, is my heart the House of God? What about that dwelling place? Am I preparing it with the decorating He desires - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control, Humility, Compassion, Grace, Gratitude...Lots of decorating to be done there.
And there's that JOY again. The LORD keeps bringing me back there. I keep going to the LORD - I want it, LORD, and oh, it eludes me so.
It won't come naturally; the enemy has caused his damage; I have to fight for it...build a new habit and then that new habit will become the habit...building the habit of joy!
Really, God, can it really happen like that; can it happen to me in this heart that seems to have this bend toward disappointment?
Ann Voskamp talks of this habit replacing habit and challenges us to join her in The Joy Dare - Counting 1,000 gifts in 2012.
She gives us 3 a day to count, but I want to count my own personal gifts God is bestowing in my life. How about 2012 gifts in 2012!?!? I up to 61 on day 8 of the month. May these expressions of thankfulness not just be lip service, not just an intellectual acknowledgment of something sweet that happened...may my heart experience them as gifts from the loving hands of God and may my heart respond in genuine joy!
It's so hard to pause! I like your thoughts about decorating the true place your Life abides - your heart. That's a good reminder for me tonight!
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