Renewing Joy and Vision: A Matter of Decision

Author Dianne Barker is wise and practical. In this Choices UPGRADE, she reminds us that in difficult days, we need to make intentional decisions to be joyful and renew our vision if we want to bring glory to God.

“The science-fiction year 2020 is in the books,” Dianne says, “but pandemic living has robbed us of joy and vision. Have you lost your joy and vision?”

I (Dawn) know what Dianne's talking about. I had a couple of weeks early in 2020 that sent me into an emotional tailspin. Nothing changed until I took my struggle to the Lord (Psalm 42:11). He made the difference in my spiritual and emotional health.

Dianne continues . . .

Life is still unsettled, the future uncertain. If we’re depending on favorable circumstances to renew our joy and vision, we may have a long wait.

Could renewal simply be a matter of decision? Consider this.

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord (Psalm 116:17).

Did you notice the words I WILL? That’s decision.

Today, whatever the circumstance, I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord… and nothing can stop me.

From the phrase sacrifice of thanksgiving, I get the impression that offering thanks is essential, even when life is difficult.

I choose thanksgiving when I don’t feel thankful, presenting my thanksgiving as a sacrifice to the Lord.

When life goes according to plans and expectations, my heart overflows with gratitude and thanksgiving. It’s easy to rejoice and sing praise—the spontaneous response of feeling.

But when I’m derailed by detours and disappointments, can I offer thanksgiving and praise by decision? Yes, because no matter my experience, God is worthy of honor and exaltation.

In Psalm 116, calling on the name of the Lord is a recurring thought.

The writer begins,

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live (vv. 1-2).

Encountering difficulties, distress, and anguish, the Psalmist called on the name of the Lord (v. 4).

What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord (vv. 12-13).

He repeats his determination to call on the name of the Lord (v. 17) four times in twenty verses.

Calling on the name of the Lord suggests crying out.

Likely you’ve been there.

• Crying out in your pain, fear, or sorrow.
• Crying out when someone you love encounters unspeakable heartbreak.
• Crying out when you’ve lost your joy and vision.

This Psalm gives a precious picture of our Lord.

He heard my voice and my pleas for mercy… he inclined his ear to me.

I see him bending down, giving his full attention to the cry of his hurting child.

One of my favorite Bible-study practices is underlining every reference to “I cry, he hears,” along with the action that follows—what God did in response to the cry for help. The study convinces me our God is not a distant God. He’s personal and a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

I cry. He hears.

Whatever His response, knowing He’s heard satisfies me. I rest, assured He’s working for my good and His glory.

My friend Freda is a woman of great faith and confident prayer. I’ve shared countless concerns over decades of friendship, knowing she would talk to our Father on my behalf. Always, she comforts my anxious heart, saying, “I can’t wait to see how God works this out!”

Life is still unsettled, the future uncertain.

But we needn’t wait for favorable circumstances to renew our joy and vision. We can begin living by decision!

Choose to:

• Offer to the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
• Call on the name of the Lord.

All my cares are in the mighty hands of God. And I can’t wait to see how He works things out!

Are you ready to renew your joy and vision?

Dianne Barker is a speaker, radio host, and author of 11 books, including the best-selling Twice Pardoned and award-winning I Don’t Chase the Garbage Truck Down the Street in My Bathrobe Anymore! Organizing for the Maximum Life. She’s a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, and Word Weavers International. Visit www.diannebarker.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Ben White at Unsplash.

Joy, the Key to Peace

Pam Farrel knows more about joy because she's made it a focused choice in her life. In this Attitude UPGRADE, she encourages us to discover more peace as we pursue biblical joy.

"We live in a world where people are struggling with stress and discouragement," Pam says. "In a recent, Fox News poll, 65% say they are stressed daily and 52% of Americans say they are worried daily."

I (Dawn) see this stress and discouragment all the time. There is little peace in our world. But Pam says joy is the key to peace!

Pam continues . . . 

The good news is, researchers who wrote for Time magazine’s The Science of Happiness say that happiness is made of from 50% DNA, 10%Circumstances, and 40% CHOICES we make.

“We make our choices and our choices make us!” That's a mantra that those in my world have heard my husband, Bill, and I say for several decades.

During one particularly challenging and strenuous circumstance in my life when EVERYTHING seemed to be unraveling, my friends kindly reached out and inquired about my wellbeing.

I didn’t know how to answer them. The answer was too personal, too long and too depressing, so I prayed and asked God, "How do I answer?”

The Holy spirit impressed a question on my heart, “Pam, what kind of person do you want to be?”

“Lord I want to be the kind of person that can choose joy no matter what life sends my way. Your Word in Neh. 8:10 says “The joy of the Lord is my strength” and this family needs strength, so I choose You, Jesus, I choose joy!”

From that point on, when people ask, “How are you doing?” my answer has been, “Choosing joy!”       

Yes, our life is the sum of our choices and God’s loving sovereignty.     

In Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience, I share a word study where I add the synonyms to help define the key words in this verse with a vital key choice:

The choice to rejoice! 

REJOICE (lean in and delight in God’s grace) at ALL times, I repeat, REJOICE (choose to be glad and joyful because of ALL God gives us!) (Philippians 4:4).

God graciously gives the “how to” rejoice in Phil 4:6-9—

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God doesn’t want us to be anxious (worried and loaded down with cares). The solution He provides can be illustrated as a word picture of wrapping a gift into a gift bag:  

Think of your cares and anxieties (your “supplication”) that you desire God to answer, as the gift; wrap them in the tissue paper of prayer, which Strong’s concordance explains is “to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes for His wishes....”

Drop your cares in the gift bag of thanksgiving, gratefully thanking God by faith for what He will deliver as an answer for your eternal good and His Eternal Glory.

As we ask, request and petition God, the confidence comes in believing you are giving this “gift” to the ONLY ONE who has the REAL POWER to answer—The Almighty GOD!   

And as we make this transaction, God gives us a gift back—peace (harmony, tranquility and sense of security) that is beyond comprehension! And that IS a great reason to REJOICE!

TRY THIS EXERCISE to apply this illustration to your life today:

• Imagine your greatest stress is placed into your right hand, wrap your fingers around this anxiety.
• Now lift it heavenward; open your fingers and picture presenting it at the foot of the throne of heaven.
• Leave your care there, but keep your hand open.
• Now, think of a name of God that would be best to hang your heart on to find hope, joy and peace. If you struggle to pick which trait, choose the name or trait of God that would be opposite of your stress. For example, if you care is your anxiety, trade it for the peace of God.
• Follow up by looking up verses about God being peace and giving peace.
• Then string your favorite verses together, put your name in the series and personalize God’s Word to your life.

Remember: Joy is the Key to Peace.

How can you apply this scripture to your life today? "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

Pam Farrel is an international speaker, relationship expert, and author of 48 books including her newest, Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience. She and her husband, Bill, co-direct Love-Wise ministries.

Graphic of key, courtesy of Pixabay.