Day 4 of Finding Joy in the Journey
Philippians 1:25
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.
It is worthwhile to mention that joy is not the absence of negative emotion but the ability to stay yourself in the midst of difficult emotion. For example, if I had a difficult day but I share with a friend about it, I can readily say to that friend, “I am glad you were with me.” Helpful people with us during times of difficulty is a form of joy: glad-to-be-together joy.
Session A: Focus on joyful memories of the past. Or drift back to yesterday and celebrate moments of appreciation. Note how your body is feeling as you revisit these memories: Can you catch yourself smiling, laughing? Are you relaxing?
Journal Prompt:
Smells that bring you Joy?
Why?:
Key Words:
My child, for as long as you remain, I want to see you continue to partner with others to progress in and find great joy in the faith -- together. Amen? [Amen!]
Who crosses your mind as partners in faith, life, and ministry?
“Joy is awesome! Joy is a high-energy feeling that you can’t wait to share with others. It motivates us to be with people we love, and we feel alive and on top of the world when joy is present in our interactions.”
p. 9, The 4 Habits, Warner, Coursey
Afternoon Session
2 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
There can be great relational joy and peace when someone works with us for our benefit – not in a patronizing way, but as one truly interested in our personal welfare (God included).
Yet we don’t always benefit from God’s peace and joy. Why? Consider this quote from Joyful Journey:
The third reason we miss God speaking to us is that we don't stop to check the characteristics of our thoughts to see if they are poetry that rhymes God's thoughts. We will explore how to check our thoughts more completely later, but now let us examine the main test. Thoughts that rhyme with God's produce shalom. Shalom is a state of harmony where everything works together, makes sense and is good. Shalom is the "peace of Christ."… Once Shalom is restored, we feel grateful. Gratitude and shalom are the hallmarks of thought-poetry with God so we have made them the beginning and ending points for Immanuel journaling.
pp. 3-4, JJ, WKLL
Shalom checklist (from p.54)
- Do I feel peacefully calm?
- Am I sensing God’s loving presence?
- Am I confident that nothing can take me away from God’s love?
- Am I portraying my weakness accurately?
- Am I still sensing God’s interactive presence in my painful memory?
- Have my joy, peace, and hope increased?
- Has my desire to love and serve others increased?
Do these checklist items resonate with you by their presence or absence? On to your 5-minute joy exercise:
Session B: Remember, you can share your joy stories with others for your 5 minutes. It builds community and spreads the joy.
Journal Prompt:
People who bring or brought you joy:
Key Words:
Yes My child, this is My will for you – and for all who belong to Me. Let’s keep journeying together.
I give everyone and everything to You God;
I give everyone and everything to You.
Evening Session
Session C: Before your official 5-minute window, take a moment to focus on gratitude. Dwell on a thing or person you appreciated today. Then move into your joyful memories time. Finish with worship joy toward God.
Journal Prompt:
People who bring or brought
you peace:
Key Words:
Psalm 95:1 NIV
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
This is part of the church liturgy in many hymnals – and in many hearts! Listen to this invitation from Jesus:
Come, sing to your LORD; make a joyful noise to the rock of your salvation! You can join your earthly songs with the angels’ heavenly praise! What songs come to mind for you?
Reliving joyful memories is a great way to spend a few minutes (or a few hours) and it always leaves us feeling greater peace – like I’m going to be okay.
p. 34, The 4 Habits, Warner, Coursey