Month: September 2015

Joy Stealers

On By Michele Huey, Author & SpeakerIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

What has happened to all your joy? – Galatians 4:15 (NIV)

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy . . . – Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)

“What has happened to all your joy?” the apostle Paul asked the first century church in Galatia.

You could ask me the same thing.

A few months ago my joy was overflowing. Then a string of unexpected expenses, disappointments, dashed hopes—you know, the stuff of life—siphoned it out.

Image courtesy of Toa55 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Toa55 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I was like a tire losing air. But it wasn’t the events themselves that drained my joy, but my response to them. I worried. I fretted. I wallowed in disappointment. I danced with impatience. I denied my simmering anger because I didn’t know where to direct my ire. I mean, I wasn’t mad at God, was I?

Joy stealers. That’s what worry, disappointment, impatience, and anger are. We lose joy when we run ahead of God, taking things in our own hands rather than wait for Him to work things out in His way and in His time. We lose joy when we pray and then don’t wait for the guidance, wisdom, and discernment we asked for. We lose joy when we don’t trust our heavenly Father and His promises to us in His Word.

In some cases, it’s not a slow leak that causes us to lose our joy but hitting a nasty pothole or something sharp on the road—something you didn’t see coming and couldn’t avoid. Then your tire of joy blows out and you’re stuck alongside of the road of life, a joyless Christian.

But the stuff of life happens. Potholes open up where we least expect them.

So how do we keep the tire of joy inflated?

First, know that trial and tribulation are part of this world and, in the hands of God, work for our good, developing us, transforming us like nothing else can (James 1:2–5; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–19; 1 Peter 1:3–9; Romans 5:1–5; John 16:33).

Know that God is in control, no matter what the circumstances. Remember there’s more going on than you can see. Trust God and continue to obey Him.

Stay in close communication with your heavenly Father through prayer, whether or not you feel like your prayers are reaching heaven, and Scripture, even when the words are bouncing off your brain.

Know that joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is fleeting, superficial. It waxes and wanes, depending on the circumstances of life. Joy, on the other hand, sinks its roots deep into our spirits, and is nourished by a growing faith and a working relationship with the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t depend on circumstances.

The stuff of life is going to happen to all of us. We choose whether to allow it to suck the joy out of us or let God use it to develop His joy, a fruit of His Spirit, in us.

Help me to thwart the thieves that would rob me of the joy—the fullness of joy—that You have for me. Remind me that the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and a fruit of the Spirit that dwells in me. Amen.

Extra tea: Read and meditate on John 15:1–17

Bearing Fruit

On By Michele Huey, Author & SpeakerIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
Image courtesy of rakratchada torso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of rakratchada torso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)

At the age of 20 Benjamin Franklin created a system for developing in his character 13 virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. (See note below for Franklin’s description of these virtues.)

He focused on one virtue each week, marking his progress on a chart in a little book he carried with him. At the end of each day he’d put a dot next to the virtue for each fault committed that day with respect to that virtue. After 13 weeks he’d start all over again, completing the course a total of 4 times in one year.

His goal, of course, was to conduct himself in such a way he wouldn’t have to put any marks on his chart. Imagine his dismay when he saw more than he wanted.

I can identify with Ben and his need to organize and schedule and chart. I can’t live without my lists. In fact, I schedule my week using an Excel document on my computer and refer to it often throughout the day. There’s something satisfying about crossing out items as I complete them.

Call me OCD.

So Ben Franklin’s chart of virtues intrigued me—even tempted me to try this on my own.

But I know me. I didn’t want to have to face all those dots at the end of the day.

But not to worry.

My character is being developed anyway—by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

You see, God too has a list of virtues He wants to develop in our characters. They’re called “The Fruit of the Spirit.”

Think of a fruit tree. What does the tree do to produce the fruit?

Nothing.

Really.

It produces fruit not because of what it does but because of what it is.

So it is with us. We don’t produce the Fruit of the Spirit because of what we do, but because of what we are.

13-virtues-chartThat sure takes a lot of pressure off, doesn’t it?

So why do we still think we can develop these virtues on our own?

In Galatians 5:16–25, the apostle Paul describes two approaches to life: doing things (or trying to) on our own strength or allowing the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer, to work in and through us.

We’re a much too independent society—we think we can do anything and everything on our own.

The problem is we can’t.

When we try to develop the fruit (which is singular, by the way, not plural—think of an orange, one fruit with many segments) on our own, we’ll only meet with failure.

But when we submit to and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, He develops this fruit in us. We mature as believers.

What about you? Are you feeling frustrated because you don’t see the Fruit of the Spirit in your character—because you’re trying to mature on your own?

Think of the fruit tree and remember—you don’t produce fruit because of what you do, but because of what you are—a beloved, chosen child of God in whom His Spirit dwells.

Remind me, Lord, that I can do nothing on my own strength, but everything through yours (Philippians 4:13). Amen.

Extra tea: Read and meditate on Galatians 5:16–25

Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues:

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

SOURCE: http://www.flamebright.com/PTPages/Benjamin.asp Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues