J-O-Y

by Debi Baker

"² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

Romans 12:1 CSB

This ol' world is on a destructive path.  I guess you could say it always has been.  Every generation has had it's destructive behaviors.  I can't tell you all of them but there is always something that is most prevalent, good or bad...and from what I can remember, mostly bad, in that season.  For us in 2017-18, at least right now, it's all about gun control; being politically correct; not offending anyone.  No, we should NOT go about trying to hurt others.  No, we should NOT go about causing trouble.  But we also don't have to constantly believe that others are intentionally hurting us or being insensitive.

I'm so tired of everyone being offended about everything.  Yes, I get offended on occasion but not often.  See, being offended is a choice.  We can choose to NOT be offended.  We don't have to immediately jump to the conclusion that someone is purposely being mean.  However, it seems so many people decide TO BE offended.  The easiest way to choose not to be offended is to renew our minds.  Get into God's Word.  Let your opinions and ideals be shaped by the Word of God!

We need to stop jumping on this or that bandwagon when we've never before had an opinion on said bandwagon subject.  God gave us a brain to use not to just let it take up space between our ears.  Maybe I was blinded to 'grown-up' life when I was a child but I don't remember there being so much hatred and disrespect and disregard for others.  Honestly, to me, it seems that people today are purposely out for the blood of others!  

Everyone always seems to be looking for ways to hurt someone else!  Maybe I'm looking through rose-colored glasses which distorts my view of the times.  I'd rather think I'm looking through the-crimson-blood-of-Jesus-colored glasses...trying to see the GOOD in others.  I really believe that everyone of us has some good in us.  We've just squashed it down so long that the bad is all that comes out of us. 

It's as if we live in a ME world.  Everything is always about ME.  What can YOU do FOR ME?  How can YOU make ME feel good?  When we're all about SELF, we leave no room for anyone else in our life.  There seems to be no joy in anyone's life anymore.  I can tell you why...it's simply, really.  In order to have genuine JOY, we need to live our life like this:

J = Jesus

O = Others

Y = Yourself

If we would learn to put Jesus first in our life...ALL THE TIME...and others above ourselves, we would find joy, true, genuine joy!  And once we find that joy, we won't be so quick to jump to the negative!

Won't you give it a try.  Practice J-O-Y!  I think you'll find that there's something good in all of us!

Have a blessed day,