Joy...

Well, its been since May since i posted... of course that's not since i have written a post! I tend to write these things, then end up deleting what i wrote, purely out of frustration, or because i choose not to be vulnerable and allow people to see inside!

I haven't been in the word as much as i should be, but today, just because, i opened my word to where my bookmark was marking. It just so happened to be 1 Peter, my favorite book!! I read a little bit past what i got the last time i opened my Bible and came across this:

"Though you have not seen Him; and even though you do not see Him, you love Him; you believe in Him *AND are filled with an inexpressable and glorious joy*, ---> for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
-1 Peter 1: 8-9

These verses struck me to the deep of my heart, and caused me to stop. I couldn't move beyond those two verses. I was convicted more than i really ever have been. I have been going thru a season where i am unhappy with where I am in life. I have complained that nothing is how i would like it to be, and that everything i am taking part in, isn't being utilized to its full potential. The honest truth is, yeah... i am probably not putting my full heart in school (well i know that for a fact), in my internship, in the youth group, in work, and even more importantly in GOD, which is definitely my own fault!! But the reality is, in the muck of life, we are called to be joyful. But not joyful by our own means, but being joyful because Christ lives in us, and has given us eternal life; we have been saved.

I began to look over my own life, and think upon when i was most joyful, those times were when i was abiding in Christ with my whole heart! It states in the word that "God will fill us with joy in His presence" and all the while i am searching for something without God!!

I also looked at the idea of salvation. I believe in my heart that i have been saved (forgive my use of words), but the fact is... i have taken it for granted. Verse 9 in that 1 Peter passage states that we are filled with "inexpressable and glorious joy" because of our salvation. We are called and should be joyful always, even admist the hard times, because we have been given something not everybody chooses to receive. I get to spend an eternity with the creator of the universe!! I think because i have been "churched" my whole life, the idea of salvation has become void of the grand pleasure and joy that it once was filled with!! It is not up to me to find joy, its up to me to abide and then joy follows!!

Just an idea to think upon!!