"And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation." (Psalm 35:9)
It's funny - I've never had the true joy of God in my heart. Sounds kinda weird coming from my own mouth and perhaps it's not entirely true, but it sure feels like it. I have known only a few people in my life whom I can say truly have that joy deep in their souls.
The first one was a deacon in my church in Aurora, Illinois. His name was Charles Odum, Sr. Brother Charlie was about 82 back then (that was in 1980), and he lived alone. His bride had long-since passed away. They had at least one son, Charlie Jr., but he lived away at a distance. Brother Charlie was one of the sweetest men I ever have known in my life. He was very assured in his salvation and well-versed in scripture. He ALWAYS had a smile, and if he didn't it was something very serious. But he loved Jesus. Deeply. Sincerely. Honestly. He was the first older person I had ever met in my life who was filled with the joy of the Lord.
The second one I met after I came back home from the military. His name was Brother Wiley. Brother Wiley always sat on the back row of the church alone. The music was WAY too loud for his hearing aids, so he would take them out or turn them all the way down. He never complained about the music - even the new choruses that he didn't know. He was there to love of God and His people, so the little things didn't annoy him. I remember his smile. He could light up a room. And when he spoke, it was as if God Himself was speaking. His wife, too, had long-since passed away, and that was the only thing I heard from these two giants of God - they missed their spouses and couldn't wait to see them again.
I was raised in a very rebellious and angry household. My parents were both Christians, but my mom's attitude overrode any Christian spirit in the home. Dad was very laid-back - nothing seemed to bother him much. Mom, however, was the spitfire, the bitter, angry person who lashed out at anyone and everyone. I'm sorry to speak so of the dead, but it is true. The atmosphere in our home was one of mistrust - even amongst ourselves. Growing up in that invironment, that became my general lifestyle.
I must confess that events of my life have only solidified and established that spirit within me. Oh, I can preach about the joy of God but to know it truly is foreign to me. I love Jesus with all my heart. And, I have only within the past two years come to know the real peace of God in my heart. My entire life has been lived on-edge, just waiting for the next negative thing to happen to me. That's sad to admit, but I feel like we are friends. Just within the last two years have I learned to walk through life with a good attitude, looking for the positive and uplifting - not fearing the next evil around the corner.
Now that I know the peace of God, I want to know the joy of the Lord. Oh, I know that my eternity in heaven is assured - that's not even a concern. But I want to lose the resting crabby face. I want to be like Brothers Odum and Wiley. I want to be approachable, I want to be less intimidating, I want to look like Jesus surely must have looked. By so stating, I understand the next few days and weeks will probably come with trials unexpected and pressures I couldn't have aniticipated; however, I beg your prayers. I ask you to pray for me - as well as your other brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible tells us the joy of the Lord is our strength and I want to be strong - in the Lord. I have known strength in the flesh, but that pales in comparison to the strength God gives.
My challenge to you today is not to just pray for me, but to pray for each other. I will be praying for you, my friends, that God will shower you with His love and break forth a spring of joy in your hearts that will overflow. That is our heritage and that is our future.
Be blessed.
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