Pray for Joy

Since going back to work after Aaron has been born, my heart has been full of myself and complaining. After confessing this to God, I asked a friend to help me pray for joy especially in the home, since I only have a few precious hours with my family at the end of the day. Sometimes I feel like all they get is "the leftovers" after I put in my all at work.

I finally got a chance to put the dishes away and fold the laundry after everyone was asleep. The house was quiet and I checked my e-mail and facebook. I went to bed a little later than usual, but was all "caught up." It was hard to drift off to sleep cause my mind was still stiring with the "latest gossip." A few minutes after I finally got to sleep, I heard Aaron awake. Grrrrr. So I was back out of bed.

Why can joyfulness be so hard to find? Is the joy of the Lord really my strength? Am I so distracted from putting my Hope in Him? Do I trust Him to overflow my heart with joy? Sometimes I feel like I have good reason to complain. Sometimes it is so hard to get a good nights sleep. But by praying for joy, God is slowly changing my heart.

I stepped into Aaron's room to check on him. He wasn't really awake, but he was just making that noise trying to get himself back to sleep. I picked him up out of his crib and sat down with him in the rocker. His tired smile turned into a yawn as he closed his eyes. I gazed at his beatiful face and delicate features as he curled up against my chest. He always seems to find "that spot" that was made just for him. I immediately started thanking God for this chance when the house was quite to hold him close with no distractions. I started praising God for all of my children and praying for their future. Praying that Aaron would come to know Jesus as his Savior and never remember a day without him. And thanking God that Alisia and Caleb will always have this blessing of knowing him as their Savior at such a young age.

I realized that he was back asleep. I didn't want to lay him down. I was loving this moment. Then I realized....WOW, I've got joy in my heart! That is what JUST what I asked God for! I laid Aaron back in bed so I could get just a few hours of sleep. But it felt so good. I was joyful.

A dear friend recently wrote me these encouraging words in an e-mail and I thought I'd share them:

How many joyful moments we miss only because of the wrong perspective at that time. I just pray that we have the right one everytime for the sake of our children, our marriage, our family and our future generations...the only cost that it comes with is sacrifising our own ego, being selfless at those moments....

Yes, the only cost is being selfless. To think, that could change future generations! The distraction is not worth it! I do not need to keep up with everything everyone else is doing. In this technology-crazed age, why do we think we have to stay informed and up-to-date? Don't get me wrong, I love definately enjoy facebook, blogging, and instant messaging. I love how I can share in the lives of my friends and family in this way. But why do we let those things steal from us time we have for carrying out God's purpose in our life?

The enemy wants us to be distracted from finding joy. He does not want us to be a light to point others to God. How Satan must enjoy seeing our complaining hearts tear down our lives. May the Lord renew your joy today! May we pass on the heritage of a joyful heart! Oh that the joy we find in Him may transform our home!

"Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."

Psalm 119:111