Christianity Sermons & Scripture

One Word for 2016: JOY

So, lots of people have been raving about this whole ‘One Word’ thing. The idea being that you ditch New Years Resolutions (which I’m all in favour of anyway, if you want to make change, do it whenever, don’t wait for the new year!) and just choose one word for your year to focus on. Last year by default, although I didn’t really choose it, my word was ‘Selah’, taking rest, pausing, reflecting, I’ve written about it lots so if you want to know more on that do take a look.

But this year I have consciously decided to do it, to actually choose a word to focus on. It’s taken a while but the word I’ve finally chosen is ‘JOY’. 

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Why joy? indeed, good question. There were lots of words that might have been more original, or more meaningful, less vague, perhaps more in line with what will be happening this year for me. But the thing that I really don’t like about myself (well one of them…) is that when I’m tired or bit under par or just busy, I get grumpy. And not just that I’m grumpy, but grumpy and cross with people around me, the people I love, usually my family. I hate that the joy I have from Jesus gets robbed away from me at those times. And of course I’m not ignoring the reason why this happens, if you’ve read my blog in the last year you’ll know I’ve been addressing time management, rest and more. But some things just won’t change and realistically I will get tired and busy sometimes, so my aim is to not lose the joy I have but to loose it! I hope that in focussing on this one word it will help me to do so.

God’s word tells us in James 1:2-3 to consider it joy when we face trials, not that my trials are particularly big, but when I read of those who are persecuted and attacked and yet are still so obviously filled with the joy of the Lord, it gives me huge encouragement and perhaps a little shame that I am bogged down in the tiny detail.

In Nehemiah 8:10 the prophet tells the people ‘…for the joy of the Lord is your strength’. Yes! it is, I just need to continually remind myself of this. Joy is also one of the fruit of the spirit Paul talks of in his letter to the Galatians, 5:22; and finally one of my fave passages, Hebrews 12:1-3 – if you haven’t then do read The Message version, it really brings it alive, love the line ‘that will shoot adrenaline into your souls!’ But for now in the NRSV version:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

 

Be inspired by Jesus and all that He did! He was filled with joy even knowing what he had to face. So JOY will be an ongoing theme this year as I endeavour to be focussed on the joy of the Lord and not on my tiredness, illness or busyness!

 

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2 Comments

  • Reply
    Chris Goswami
    January 5, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    Totally up for the one word thing. A friend of mine came up with “being” rather than simply doing. She is very smart though. I am trying to think of something better than “surviving” which is what comes to my mind first 🙂 But thanks for your insights – I might well just follow you with your word!

    • Reply
      Jules
      January 5, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Hiya, thanks for the comment (and Twitter follow!)
      I like ‘being’, good choice from your friend. One of my fave Scriptures, ‘be still and know’ as I’m usually a ‘doer’, need to be reminded of just being sometimes.
      Let me know which word you go for, why not join the ‘joy gang’ 🙂
      In fact I’m looking for people to guest post on joy….
      Blessings
      Jules

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