Thirst

God's been teaching me a lot through being sick. It's about the joy of the Lord being our strength, but also about fixing my eyes on Him. I've discovered that I tend to view the world with a critical eye in some ways, which is good in the sense that I am seeking solutions to the problems that I see in people's lives and in the world in general. It is bad, because those solutions cannot be found here on earth-- Jesus is the answer for the world today, if you'll permit me to use that song, hahaha!!

It's good to have vision and to see places that need to be worked on in your life or in someone else's, but if your attention is not continually focused on Jesus, the problem will become foremost in your thoughts. It's funny, because you'll feel good about yourself that your heart is broken for the lost, or that you care about the state of men's souls, or that you're so sensitive to your own spiritual condition, but in truth, you're just glorifying yourself and the problem along with it. We've been praying for revival-- what does that look like? Is it just hundreds of people falling on their faces in repentance? If repentance is all we seek, we'll end up looking for pain and dissatisfaction every time we come to God to worship or intercede. Repentance is only the first part. In itself, it won't change anyone! In His presence there is fullness of JOY. If we don't have joy, it's because we're not focused on Him.

Listen, no matter what is going on in your life, God is still worthy to be praised. What was that great commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Our highest calling is simply to LOVE GOD. If our eyes are constantly on ourselves and the people we're ministering to, we will become discouraged and heavy-hearted. If our eyes are constantly fixed on HIM, we will truly have abundant life and freedom irregardless of circumstance. That is the meaning of joy.