J.O.Y.

A wonderfully sweet and encouraging woman at our church gave me this to hang in our house.

While it may technically be a Christmas decoration, I think it will be something that stays on our wall year round.  Why, you ask?  Well, when she gave it to me, she explained that joy is her favorite word and that she has it hanging all over her house.  "Oh, that's neat.  My favorite word is probably grace," I responded, thinking the conversation was over.  Then she explained why. 

"JOY stands for Jesus, others, yourself.  It's a reminder to put Jesus Christ first, then others, before yourself and your own wants and needs."  Honestly, my first response was, "Oh, that's nice." Smile and nod.  I don't usually like silly phrases and sayings.  All too often they sound good, but don't really mean anything.  But when I really thought about it, I realized several things.  First of all, even if it were just a silly acronym, I could definitely use that reminder in my life!  But besides just being a visual reminder of my life's priorities, it points to a deeper spiritual truth.   

If you want to have TRUE JOY in your life, you have to put Christ first. 

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11

"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God."  Psalm 43:3-4

Scripture is clear that to live a God glorifying life, and thus experience the joy that only comes from Him, you must put Jesus Christ first in all things, and before all else.  He has to be first in your job, in your marriage, in your family, and in every decision that you make. 

Of course, this is not an easy task, and I'm not going to pretend like it is, or that I have mastered it.  But it is the life that God has called me to.  And I want to have "fullness of joy" in my life.  So I will keep this up as a daily reminder...

And I will work to put Christ first in my life.