Light & Joy
These two words don’t require a lot of explanation. They do need to be understood in the context of their use. Light has multiple uses. It can be broad and splashy, displayed for thousands to enjoy at one time. The Christmas season is upon us and lights will be everywhere drawing attention to The Light of The World – Jesus. Light can also be focused into a small intense laser that cuts through some of the toughest materials with incredible precision. Joy on the other hand is seen in people’s faces and activities. Joy is a state of mind and heart. I see the mind and heart making up the soul. Joy resides there or at least pays visits there. I believe when I have proper perspective of Light & Joy, my soul can sing, and I experience the Lord’s Presence as such a deep level.
The Psalmist seemed to have this perspective. Check this out….
9 For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right.
12 May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord
and praise his holy name!(Psalm 97:9-12 NLT)
I want joy and light to invade my soul and remove the remnants of my own selfish desires. The enemy wants me to go for all that I want. He wants me to have my selfish desires and wants satisfied. My own selfish desires and idols inside my heart seek temporary fun at the expense of others as well as at the expense of my own soul. I want my choices to come from a heart profoundly devoted to the Lord. I want the actions of my life to be grounded in light and joy deep within my soul. I often want I want because “it becomes all about me”. If I approach life from this point, I will use people and things to get what I want. The Lord wants me to love people and use things that I have to bring honor to Him. The joy and light that is deep in my heart is sourced in my relationship with the Lord and His Word. I need to consistently watch over the diet of my mind and heart to keep it tidy and welcoming for joy and light to fill the space there.
Pressing On!
Dwayne