Pondering Point

I love the idea of gathering to be refreshed. Worship of course is a great time to do that, but so are midweek get-togethers for lunch, small group and just chatting as we build joy into our relationships. The very definition of joy (and peace) comes from being with others whom you enjoy.

We all need times of high-energy joy and low-energy rest. Nurturing a rhythm means protecting ourselves from always having to be on. We can’t always be in a high-energy state. Sometimes we need alone time without a lot of noise or emotional demands and sometimes we need quiet time with just 1 or 2 other people where we can enjoy being together in a low-energy state.
~ Warner, Coursey, The 4 Habits, pages 62-63.

Pray aloud

Father God, may Your will be done that we, Your children, come together with joy and get refreshed in each other’s company – over and over and over!

Five Minutes

Use your GO TO JOYS and ANTICIPATED JOYS to fill a 5-minute window. Remember: use an alarm. If necessary, review the explanation. 

Read the identity in Christ
statement aloud

In Christ, I can experience God’s will for me, including joy and refreshment through the people I meet today.

Closing Prayer

Close with thanks to God for these moments together.

Ask Him to bless the upcoming day, then…

GO – in JOY, with JOY anticipating JOY

Friday, October 25, 2024:

Sometime During Your Day

Level 3: Savoring joys of the past.

Isaiah 9:3 ESV

You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

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Pondering Point

The above verse references the coming Messiah Jesus for Israel and us. Here is a person who came to us wanting to share joy and refreshment. This part of Isaiah is the same section (9:7) that speaks of the Messiah as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace” – quoted in Handel’s Messiah, a source of musical joy for millions by now. And the source of inspiration and joy for Handel was… Jesus! Consider listening to a portion of it for worship time.

Journal Prompt:  

Joy memories related to school field trips (or other things):


Key Words: 

Discipling in Joy (evening)

Friday, October 25, 2024

Pondering Point

“Joy is a high-energy emotion related to knowing that someone is happy to see me. The relational happiness we feel when we experience spontaneous joy can also be experienced when we relive joyful moments from the past or anticipate joyful moments in the future.”
~ Warner, Coursey, The 4 Habits, page 33.

Who brought you high-energy emotion and refreshment to your soul today? Thank God for them.

Pray aloud

Thank You, Father God for blessing me with experiences joy and refreshment throughout the day. Help me remember those parts now:

Review

Look back for previously ANTICIPATED or SURPRISE JOYS. You are training your brain to look for joy. This builds the habit. Recall the body sensations and emotions. This solidifies the habit. Remember: use an alarm

Read the identity in Jesus
statement aloud

In Jesus, we can experience God’s will for us, including joy and refreshment through the people we interact with throughout any given day.

Evening Prayer

Thank God for blessing the day, ask for peaceful rest, then GO to sleep – in grateful JOY, anticipating new JOY tomorrow under His grace.