#SundayStillness – Are you focusing on God or your circumstances?

#SundayStillness – Are you focusing on God or your circumstances?

When-we-focus-on-God-the-rest
Photo from freedigitalphotos.net.

 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.  (John 15:11-12, The Message). (my emphasis on JOY)

What is a wholly mature joy? I have been thinking about that. This summer has been a joyful one – family, more family and more family. I have loved it. Even though others have complained about a cool summer – really it was lovely. Love filled the summer.

But in the past, I didn’t always feel “joyful”. I found myself tired, overwhelmed, disorganized and confused. Why?

I think Oswald says it best:

The first thing that will hinder this joy is the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances (Oswald Chambers August 31).

I used to let little things bug me – laundry, dishes, meals, cleaning. Instead of just doing them joyfully. I used to let the fact I was tired bug me.

Instead, I needed to be rightly related to God,
and then my joy will come without any effort on my part. 

When I figured this out – I could be joyful during anything.

So I had a wonderful summer during tiredness, sickness, and sleepless nights.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed, tired, or confused:

STOP – pray.

Get right with our Lord, thank Him for all His blessings.

When we focus on God the rest falls into place.

Prayer:

Lord, sometimes we let the trials of the day drag us down. Instead we need to look to You for our strength and joy. Help us to get closer and closer connected to the mainspring of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Tweetable:

When we focus on God the rest falls into place. (tweet this)

God Arise – and scatter all your foes. by Robin Mark. Find joy in God. (tweet this)

Follow #UTCOP to read the prayers of our contributors. (tweet this)

Join us as we continue to pray this month – for all sorts of things. Follow Under the Cover of Prayer by subscribing to this blog by email.

Feel free to pin any picture you find to Pinterest.

Enjoy God Arise by Robin Mark.

Today is Sunday Stillness – others join me to link their posts about what God is teaching them. Enjoy.



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17 comments

  1. Blessings, Janis! Happy to link in again – each month I’m doing a four part series on a singular theme to stay consistent. My big news is the launch of my own publishing company and crowd funding campaign this week – publishing my Fable Springs Parable series and more. There’s a book trailer at the top of my sidebar. God is allowing all these things to fall into place as I keep my focus on Him – just as you shared today. So much I have learned on this journey of many years to bring me to this place. God is soooo good!
    Joy!
    Kathy

  2. Sometimes we forget about embracing the ordinary and find pleasure in life’s everyday circumstances, but God intended for us to live a rich, joy-filled life full of abundance until it overflows! 🙂
    Have a joyful Sunday Janice!
    Denise

  3. Your post is the second one on joy that I’ve read in the last few minutes. Joy is my word for 2014 and I guess God just wants me not to forget it!

  4. I have discovered joy this past year like I’ve never known. Not “walking on the clouds” kind of joy, but joy in the most mundane things, like you said. Simple joy that comes from knowing just how blessed I am to have things like health, a job, my family, and so much more. Just this week, every time I started to complain, I’d hear the Holy Spirit whisper words of rebuke in my spirit. Wanting to complain that my husband let the garbage go to practically overflowing…I heard,”Be thankful you have a husband. And food. And a garbage can to put what you don’t want in there. And shelter for all of that.” That’s how I’ve been finding joy. Thanks for the great reminder, and of course, for hosting Sunday Stillness (and for the reminder!).

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