CountItJoy | Kristi's Morning Devotional

December 5, 2023December 5, 2023

I’ve Got Joy

For the past hour, as I was waking up, the lyrics of a song we sang Sunday morning have been on a continuous loop in my heart.

“I’ve got joy in the morning

Joy in the evening

You keep me dancing

In every season

No matter what comes my way

I’ve got joy”

Joy – it’s greater than happiness. Happiness is conditional. If everything is going well – all the bills are paid, the kids are fed, I feel strong and invigorated, the boss likes my work, my favorite sports team won – then I’m happy. But that’s not joy.

No, joy is different. Joy isn’t dependent upon circumstances.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:2-5 NJKV

Joy in trouble and trials? You can’t be serious. Oh, but I am. This verse was written during a time when Christians were being arrested and severely persecuted. Some were facing death because of their faith and James tells them to consider it joy.

The first thing that comes to my mind, after reading that, is this:

“And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:23-26 NKJV

Paul and Silas had just been beaten and they had joy. I don’t imagine they were happy about the beating they took or that they were in prison but at midnight, in their darkest hour, they had joy. In fact, they were overflowing with joy and could pray and sing.

Now I don’t know, if they had been sitting their complaining about their situation and bemoaning the fact that they had been beaten for preaching, if there would have been an earthquake that would have broken their bonds. But I do know that they counted it joy when they were in a difficult circumstance.

Their joy came from knowing they had done the will of God and they also knew they had His promise to never leave them or abandon them. We have that same promise.

King David said in Psalm 139 that even if he went to hell God would still be with him. When we come to that realization, that God has chosen to be ever-present in our lives, we will know true and abiding joy.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'” Luke 2:9-11 NKJV

The Lord has given us a wonderful gift – the gift of joy!

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022

Technical Difficulties

Today is one of those days when things aren’t going according to normal…

What to do?

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

⁵If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:2-5 NLT

Join me in considering each circumstance an opportunity of GREAT joy!

The Father is always in control!!

May 29, 2022May 29, 2022

Waiting…waiting

This morning started in one of my least favorite ways.

Those of you who know me personally or that have read my blog for any length of time know that I am not a good waiter. Not like the waiter in the restaurant but not good at waiting.

I can be patient when waiting for a special day or event; I am patient with small children as they lolligag and explore and even as they learn to tie their shoes or cut their meat. I was quite patient when our teenagers learned to drive, and I don’t have a problem waiting on others who are trying to learn something new.

But…

I don’t like waiting on things that are supposed to operate quickly and don’t! Specifically, my computer and my internet connection. How trivial you must think me to be. Well, this morning was one of the slowest mornings I’ve experienced in a long time.

My frustration level was quite high and then I realized how silly I was being. To be impatient with something so insignificant but this is where I found myself with my blood pressure rising. The Apostle Paul calls it “crucifying the flesh”. Gaining victory over our emotions.

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, ²³gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. ²⁴And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. ²⁵God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

I put myself in check and realized the selfishness of my frustration. There are so many who are “waiting” – waiting on a loved one to return, waiting on a good report from their physician, waiting on a new job or a career change, waiting to be appreciated, waiting for a broken heart to heal.

It was then that I put aside my frustration with the computer and began to pray for those who are waiting on the “big” things of life! I took the time that I was waiting for the screens to change and the programs to load to pray. So many needed to be covered in prayer.

“If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:4 ERV

I know this won’t be the last time I face this challenge. It is a lesson the Lord continues to teach me. One of these days I will graduate the school of impatience with flying colors and then He will lead me through the next lesson.

I am so thankful that God doesn’t become impatient with me!

April 15, 2022April 15, 2022

Annoying Circumstances

There are little circumstances that can cause big annoyances. Let me explain.

We have been dealing with a refrigerator issue for about a month now. The freezer stays at a constant -2 degrees, however, the refrigerator won’t cool below 44 degrees. This isn’t a big problem for most of the items but things like milk, mayonnaise and eggs get a little too warm.

The manufacturer of our RV has been great. First, they sent us some “trouble shooting” guidelines. Perfect. We followed them step by step. Everything checked out. Next instruction was call a mobile tech. Check. He came and assessed the issue. Sent pictures, written explanations and waited. We received another more detailed check list from the manufacturer’s of the refrigerator. Really???

Notice, I am now getting annoyed. Emails are being exchanged a couple of times a day. Had one arrive yesterday morning at 5 am my time. I responded immediately. As Dave and I were talking, trying to keep our blood pressure down, the phone rang. It was the RV manufacturer. The rep on the other end was very sympathetic and knew our need to have a working refrigerator in place before we leave in three weeks for the mountains. She listened to our frustration and assured me she was on it.

Within two hours she sent another email. A new refrigerator is on the way. It will be there in four business days.

Big sigh and a “thank you Jesus”!

Each day that we have been dealing with this Dave has been saying, “I will not let this spoil our summer. We’ll work it through one way or another. We just need it fixed and God knows that”.

Truly, He did. He knows all the little things that come about to steal our joy and when we trust Him he will bring us through with a proper attitude.

“The Lord is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To him everyone is the same… ²¹He is the one you should praise. He is your God. He has done great and amazing things for you. You have seen them with your own eyes.” Deuteronomy 10:17-21 ERV

Will we have annoyances? Yes. Will we face circumstances that are frustrating? Yes. Do we have to give in to them? No.

If we trust Him, our Father will guide us through each situation. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. He will be the one to defend and protect. When we keep our focus on Him and His ability we will have joyful victory over annoying circumstances.

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021

It’s Good Tuesday

Today’s title is interchangeable. It can be used any day of the week!

Why?

God is good all the time and He shares His goodness with us. Who among us doesn’t feel that love, trust, hope, wisdom, strength and joy are good things? All of these characteristics are for us and when added to the grace and peace we learned about yesterday make everyday a good day.

“The Lord has done this. We think it is great! ²⁴This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:23-24 NLV

I don’t understand those who get up and consign themselves to a “bad” day. As believers in Christ we can roll all the cares of the day over on Him and take the joy He gives and fill our day with that.

It’s simple but it takes work to change our mindset. Our Father isn’t a genie with magic powers , no. He is God Almighty, our Father, and He promises to take our cares and direct our steps.

“Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:3 ERV

This is the message Paul was writing about to the Christians in Colossae and it is just as true today. These people weren’t spiritual giants, they were new Christians who had only recently accepted the gift of Christ but they were having good days. Paul had received word about their faith and love.

It was a Good Day!

Because of their faith and love hope grew in their hearts. Hope of what was waiting for them in heaven. They shared this hope in their community and many were placing their faith in the Good News of the gospel. The love of the Father was spreading and changing lives.

It’s a Good Day for us as well.

The grace of God changes our lives. We have the same hope and can share in this very same love that they did. God’s love has not decreased through the ages nor has His grace (kindness) depleted. When we begin to understand the depth of His love and grace we will rely upon His strength and power, even in the rough times, knowing that He will carry us through.

May I encourage you to read the first chapter of Colossians. What I’ve shared with you today is in the first few verses. It won’t take long to read it. It’s a life changing message and it will certainly make for A GOOD DAY.

This is my prayer for you:

“I pray that you will be giving thanks to the Father. He has made it so you could share the good things given to those who belong to Christ who are in the light. ¹³God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son. ¹⁴We have been bought by His blood and made free. Our sins are forgiven through Him.” Colossians 1:12-14 NLV

We are invited to share in the good things that belong to us in Christ and to know that all our sins are forgiven!

It’s a Good Day to have a Good Day!