Good Morning Gorgeous,

It’s a brand new day. A fresh new start. A new day to rise and choose joy. 

Today’s verse of the day is brimming with truth.

We get the choice to be joyful. We have an opportunity each morning and all throughout the day to partner with all that is wrong or to partner with the revelation of who the Lord is and find our joy in Him alone.

I know the strength and power this takes. I am not making light of what a daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes even moment by moment struggle it is to turn from the sorrow and pain in our lives over to joy. It is work, but it is one of the unique opportunities that Christ followers have…. to be joyful and joy filled even amidst deep sorrow, stress, daily struggles and worries.

This verse is so clear though….. even when all sources of natural provision dry up, even when there is no other source of comfort or place to turn, YET I will rejoice in the Lord.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬18 KJV

And it uses joy as a VERB!!

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Joy is something we do in response to a good, good Father.

Despite every worry attacking my mind today, I will joy.

Even when the conversations with others are difficult, I will joy.

No matter the amount in my bank account, I will joy.

Regardless of circumstances, I will joy.

Even when the world seems to be crumbling around me, I will joy.

I will joy. I will joy. I will joy.

How do you joy in the storm or in the face of fear, worry, anxiety?

You stand up and keep going. You cry out from deep within your spirit. “Lord, You alone are my solid rock. Though all else may fail me, You are my joy and I rejoice in all You’ve done for my soul. I trust You. I trust You despite all the battle raging around me. Lord, I choose to find my joy in ONE place, You. All else is shifting ground and moving sand.”

You turn on worship music and sing it through tears until they stop flowing.

You get on your knees and pour out every hurt to Him.

You read your love letter from God to you. Your precious Bible that has His heart on every page.

You get up again and you move ahead and you put your eyes directly on Him. You choose to not be distracted by every firey arrow from the enemy, but instead fix your attention and affection on Him.

As you maximize your attention on Him, and purpose not to focus on all that is wrong, a shift will happen in your spirit.

Its like strength training. The more you do it, the stronger you get. The longer you can fixate on the Lord and not the firey attacks.

And the longer you can stay fixated on Him, the greater measure your joy will be!

Dear Lord,

The enemy assaults feel like they come without a break or a resting moment. Strengthen Your people to fleeeeee into Your arms instead of to the world. Teach us Lord to rejoice in the evening and to rejoice in the morning. Teach us to rejoice in the valley and to rejoice on the mountain. Cleanse our hearts and open our minds to truth. Lord, let JOY be infused into our daily walk with You.

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Blessings and JOY!

Vanessa Lynn