I have been reading through the book of Philippians for the second time here on the race. I had studied it with my team in Uganda but something amazing about god’s word is every time you read it God lets it speak to you in a new way.
I was sitting in our one room with all the tents surrounding me and I opened up my bible started reading and by the time I got to verse 4 I was laughing and amazed at how much the bible can speak to you in any given situation.
Constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you.
Phil 1:4 NRSV
It was like Jesus slapped me in the face and asked me if Paul can be praying with Joy for his friends while in prison, why is it you are not?
Now this doesn’t mean I wasn’t praying for people back home, my team, and my squad, but what it does mean is that I wasn’t doing it with a joyful heart. I was praying because I knew I needed to be praying for these people because it’s what God wanted me to do.
Another thing that jumped out in this verse to me was that fact that Paul is not only praying with for some people or some prayers but my translations says “In Every One” he didn’t just pray for some of his fellow believers with joy but ALL of them even the ones he might not get along with.
As I was sitting with my team the night before complaining about how we are actually suffering for Jesus this month and how I don’t like it. Mind you I’m sitting in a ministry site that is called house of Joy I mean come on hello how much clearer does Jesus have to make it.
I shared with my team this new realization and slap in the face Jesus gave me and as I’m telling them
Jesus asks me “where my Joy was?”
Oh know Jesus what do you mean my joy has always been in you and it’s what brings me strength.
As I sit and think about this of course Jesus is right I have not been my joyful self since being in Cambodia and I can blame it on being sick, or the living conditions, or ready to be home, or whatever other excuses I can come up with but the bottom line is Jesus doesn’t ask us when to be joyful but to be Joyful all the time.
After all people know we are disciples of the Lord by the fruits of the spirit and in Galatians it tells us Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit.
By contrast, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and, self-control
Galatians 5:22-23a
So if I’m not walking in joy but instead looking at my circumstances how are the kids, youth, our contact, my family, friends back home, and even my team going to know that I’m a disciple of Christ? How is it good for me to be in a place where I only see the suffering and how things are tough here?
Well it’s not and suffering is not a bad thing in James it tells us that trials and suffering are good because it increases our faith.
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:2-3
Jesus thank you for your slaps in the face and showing things to us clearly. The little reminders are a great thing and I am a person who walks in Joy in all circumstances. I don’t want to miss out on what you have for me this month because I’m too focused on me and the circumstances I am in.
If that was not enough my mom sent me a text with this scripture in it the day after I wrote this blog in the village.
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete
John 15:11
My JOY is still in the Lord because he has his Joy inside of me and I AM complete!
My challenge if you are reading this blog and heading to house of Joy love on this kids like there is no tomorrow. Laugh, play, smile, and teach them English, but most importantly show them how much Jesus loves them. Do not let the living situation become who you are for the month.
If you are reading this and you are back in the states check your self and make sure you are operating in who Jesus called you to be. My prayer is that you are praying for people with JOY and that you are walking in Joy in all circumstances. After all that is how others know we are a disciple of the Lord and that is the main message I know I want to send to people.
