Ann has offered the Walk with Him Wednesday crowd an opportunity to write and share what the Lord is teaching them about..."The Practice of Joy…. What does it mean to choose Crazy Joy? How do we authentically walk through hard times?"
That makes this week two, out of three, where time on Wednesday is spent meditating on and praying through at least some of the following...
Last week I started thinking about and praying these two verses, together.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4.4-7
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6And I asked the following question:
Do you see any difference between
a gentle, quiet spirit that rejoices and fills with joy
and a joyful spirit that gentles, putting hope in God and not giving way to fear?
"Suffering doesn’t touch you until you touch the suffering. And until you are touched by suffering you will not touch a sufferer."
Now? Where to start...
Maybe I'll start with my question from last week. Though some may consider it no more than word play, I do see a difference.
The first, a gentle quiet spirit that rejoices and fills (others) with joy, calls to my mind one who is already well acquainted with difficulty and hardship. I picture that gentle and quiet soul... as the one who whole-heartedly thanks the Lord for the honor of suffering simply because of how He is and will require the hard and the pain to one day proclaim His name and His glory. This is one who has been tangibly touched by suffering and thus can reach out to softly touch while sympathizing as well as strongly lifting and supporting and helping... bringing healing to others in anguish.
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 5} - Five Minute Friday ~ Welcome
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 6} - Is there time to {gently} home school and be a missionary, too? Pt 1
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 6} - Is there time to {gently} home school and be a missionary, too? Pt 1
Love your thoughts here, Richelle. I read a few other posts and was blessed by my visit with you. Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine. So glad things God is showing me are an encouragement to others, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day.
So funny, me learning well how to "lean back into the arms of Love Himself" even now, today. I think it will be the gentle turning He does of me back towards Him for the rest of my days. I love your comparison of what could be easy to say is the same. Blessing to you, my friend in another land called home.
ReplyDeletegreat post...amen to the whole thing...but especially your last line. blessings to you~
ReplyDeleteawesome truths! thank you for sharing with us. many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteKaysie