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.

Home Run Happiness — Upgrade Your Joy

Pam Farrel is a "Joy Girl!" Her motto, "Choosing Joy," isn't just a casual mantra for a happy life; it's biblical wisdom for a joy-filled, God-honoring life. In this Attitudes UPGRADE, she shares a super-practical way to add more joy to our lives.

"We are the fulltime caregivers for my aging in-laws," Pam says. "My father-in-law loves Dodger baseball, and right now—due to the pandemic—there is no baseball. So he is not a happy camper."

I (Dawn) think it's hard enough being a caregiver in "regular" times, but it's extra hard during a pandemic! But Pam and her husband Bill found a way to spread some joy.

Pam continues . . .

My father-in-law was set to celebrate his 91^st birthday while we were all “sheltering at home,” and we could feel his depression rising. I began to pray for a creative idea to lift his spirits, and one morning I woke with a simple idea.

We decided we needed to help him cultivate some joy, so we arranged a family zoom virtual gathering, we all wore baseball caps, sang “Take me out to the ballgame,” gave him peanuts and cracker jacks—and, of course, his favorite meal complete with birthday cake.  

It was a homerun hit!

Sometimes in our lives, the circumstances are so stressful or uncommonly difficult that normal happiness feels hard to come by. In these trying times, we must pro-actively cultivate our joy.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy (Psalm 94:19).

As the wave of Covid-19 spreads, fear spreads with it. So how do we move from being anxious (being tormented by a multitude of disquieting thoughts) to the place of God’s consolation (His comfort) that brings us to a place of joy and delight and, with it, the ability to smile again?  

Like in baseball, run the bases!

FIRST BASE: Study Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

It is a CHOICE to REJOICE!

Let’s look a little deeper at the meaning of the key words of this verse:

• Rejoice: (verb) be glad, joyful, favorably disposed to grace, lean in, thrive, calm delight.
• Always: at ALL times—this means you are not joyful about trials, but joyful in the midst of the trials. 
  
• Again: meaning once more, just a little further. (It might feel overwhelming to picture yourself being happy or joyful for the long haul, and God recognizes this, so the word “again” shows it is a moment-by-moment decision to "choose joy.")
• Say: meaning to tell, call, lay to rest. (The term "lay to rest" reflects the wise choice to pre-decide: I will be a person who trusts God and walks in faith, not fear. The result will be the ability to  "choose joy!" )
• In the LORD: This is committing EVERYTHING to our Master Creator who exercises absolute ownership rights. In other words, giving over whatever circumstance is robbing our joy to our Abba Father in Heaven who is the ONLY ONE who has the power to really move on our behalf.

SECOND BASE: Speak Joy

In my own life, there was an avalanche of bad news, difficult circumstances and a host of trials and tribulations that hit our life—all at once. You can read a condensed story of how God taught me to say—and live out—the "Choosing Joy!" motto.

Recently, while writing Discovering Joy in Philippians, as I studied the word joy (chairo) in the New Testament, I realized two vital truths.

1. God uses this word more than 70 times in the New Testament. So joy is important to God!
2. Of all the definitions of joy, the one that resonated most to me was "calm delight."

When you feel stress or anxiety rising in you or others, you can simply push pause and ask God, "What would calm me? Calm the situation? Calm others?" and "What would bring delight to me? To the circumstance? To others?"

Praying for, and then exercising calm delight can radically lower your stress!  

THIRD BASE: Schedule Joy

While talking with my friend who works helping First Responders with PTSD, I learned that when you suffer trauma, all the world seems to turn from vibrant color and happiness to a washed out grey.

This conversation inspired me to create a JOY BLOSSOM coloring sheet to help those who are discouraged reclaim joy.

It begins with listing 30 things that have brought you joy in the past. Think simple: sunshine on your face, standing barefoot in the grass or sand, etc. Write one joy on each leaf or petal.

Then schedule one joy moment into your life each day!

For an additional boost, color the joy blossom. Your brain will focus on staying in the lines while you color, and it will be a reprieve from thinking about problems! This lowers stress and boosts your immunity for better health—mentally and physically) 

HOME PLATE: Sketch Joy

I enjoy Bible Art. It helps me memorize and meditate on God’s truths. For what I call a Sabbath Selah (or a pause to ponder God’s goodness), I will often turn on Christian music, which also soothes the soul, and then I spend a few hours studying, creating faith-based art in my Art Bible or in my JOY JOURNAL where I include quotes and verses on joy.  

When the Coronavirus hit, I decided that perhaps my life patterns of study, speaking, scheduling and sketching joy might breath joy into others, so I penned an eBook, Infectious Joy,  that includes 30 days of joy verses, simple art to accompany it, and a space to write or draw to capture and cultivate joy.

Infectious Joy is designed to help all who read it process the powerful truths from God’s heart to create positivity and a JOY that OVERCOMES circumstances. (I invite you to print out Infectious Joy and take it to a quiet spot in the fresh air and LEAVE your tech devices behind.)

It is my hope and prayer that running these four bases to happiness will help you become a person of Infectious Joy who is a life-giver of joy, peace, calm and positivity to those around you.

Who needs a little more joy from you today?

Pam Farrel is an international speaker, relationship expert, author of 50 books including ones featuring joy: Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience, 10 Secrets of Living Strong, Smart and Savvy or 7 Simple Skills for Every Woman: Success In Keeping It All Together. Download your free copy of Infectious Joy and tell others about it too—become contagious with joy! Pam and her husband, Bill, Co-Direct Love-Wise ministries. They invite you to become a member of the Living Love-Wise Community.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Pixabay.

Choosing Joy in the Midst of Chaos

Julie Watson is an amazing woman. She has faced situations that could rob her of joy and peace, things that could have led to her defeat. But she is an overcomer, and in this Attitudes UPGRADE, she shares how she has found joy—and we can too.

“Decisions, decisions. Choosing joy in the midst of life’s messiness is quite the feat," Julie says, "but oh, so worth it!"

I (Dawn) have watched Julie cope with huge changes in her and her husband's life over the past few years. I can testify that she has found God faithful, and in the midst of the messiness of life, she has found God's unlimited joy.

Julie continues . . .

Ah, summer. If you’re a mom, you’ve likely just finished it. If you’re anything like me, you planned to have a great summer filled with fun activities: places to go, things to try, people to visit, etc.

And, if you’re still like me, you probably jumped for joy (to some degree) when it was over!

My HOPE is always to have the best summer, but my REALITY typically falls quite short.

I don’t know about you, but one can only take so much arguing, teasing, fighting, not listening and disobedience.

• Behaviors get stretched to new limits when the TV and tablets are turned off because someone (or two) is grounded, and it’s too hot to go outside to play.
• Boredom reaches new heights when Legos and Matchbox cars are the primary imagination booster to combat such yawn-inducing, brain-frying monotony.

In these instances, children often create their own “fun” which loosely translates into CHAOS for mom! And, not just any chaos, but the kind that horror stories are made of, such as: burning ants with a magnifying glass outside becomes a small brushfire (fictitious example), or a sister’s toothbrush is used as a toilet brush in a fit of assumptions, rage and revenge (a factual example from my summer).

This summer I did things differently.

Since the kids would be attending a new school, I had three whole months to work with them on the high expectations this new school has for its students.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we worked on math (the subject everyone is scared of at my house).

Tuesdays and Thursdays, I put their imaginations to work and had them write their very own books!

Since all three of my kids LOVE to read, I thought it was time to make them the authors of their own imagination destinations. Funny enough, they really loved that idea and dove right in!

But, oh my goodness, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays just about sent me over the edge.

The frustration and tears shed are almost too hard to relive… and I’m talking about MINE!

Trying to find even moments of joy became increasingly difficult.

The longer the summer dragged on, the harder it became. I had done some wonderful studies on joy in the past, and am still in the midst of one now. So, why was I struggling so much with finding joy in this summer chaos?

Joy is a choice, plain and simple. It’s not something given, bought, earned or found.

1. We have to RECOGNIZE who the author of joy is.

That’s Jesus. By taking our place on the cross and forgiving us our horrible sins we don’t deserve forgiveness for, He created an institution of joy within our own hearts when we accept Him.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

(Also see Isaiah 61:10 and John 16:24.)

2. We have to CHOOSE to be thankful for everything He has done for us.

Being grateful for our abundant blessings is the fastest way to create joy in the midst of chaos.

Even being thankful for the chaos teaches us how to cling to our Lord and Savior during the most trying of times!

“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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

(Also see Habakkuk 3:17-18; Galatians 5:22-23; and 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18.)

3. We have to SHARE it and spread that joy with those who need it.

In my estimation, that’s pretty much everyone!

Joy spreads like wildfire when you act in love and compassion toward another.

If we could share God’s love with others and act towards them with that same love, the world would change, one person at a time.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

 (Also see Proverbs 15:23 and Romans 15:32.)

In my case, I needed to choose to be thankful for these three little lives He had placed in our home and hearts after 17 long years of waiting.

He allowed us to become parents to some pretty amazing kids who were grateful to find a home with loving parents willing to help them with their schoolwork.

But, why had I forgotten to be thankful for them this summer? 

Because I had focused too much on the temporary frustrations and didn’t choose to be grateful for my lifelong blessings!

Are you struggling with choosing joy in the midst of chaos? Is there something you’re forgetting to be grateful for that will increase your joy meter? Reach out to a sister-in-Christ to pray with you and make a better choice for yourself today.

Joy is right there for the choosing and sharing!

Julie Watson worked in women’s and children’s ministries for 10 years as a Development and Executive Director before becoming a stay-at-home mom to three beautiful children. In 2016, God created a beautiful forever family when she and her husband, Shawn, were able to legally adopt the children. Julie now helps others find hope and freedom from emotional eating & unhealthy habits as a C.O.P.E. Certified Health Coach.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Pixabay.

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.