Thursday, October 24, 2024:
Reviewing Our Joy (morning)
2 Corinthians 7:13
By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Pondering Point
This week has been full of joy experienced as a bit of fresh air – refreshment! Let’s review your refreshment opportunities and whether you are taking advantage of them.
Review
Do you get out to enjoy God’s nature with friends and family? Do you invest in friends to give and receive encouragement? Who brings you refreshment?
Repent if Necessary
Repent if necessary of losing sight of the need to be in mutually encouraging relationships (see Hebrews 10:24-25)
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Return (as necessary)
Return (as necessary) before the face of God and receive His smiling face upon you. Then, refreshed by His Holy Spirit, head back into the world to encourage
and be encouraged by your fellow brothers and sisters.
Pray aloud
Father God, by Your will let me experience joy and refreshment through the company I keep today. And may I spread Your joy and refreshment to others.
Five Minutes
Use your GO TO JOYS and ANTICIPATED JOYS to fill a 5-minute window. Remember: use an alarm. If necessary, review the explanation.
Read the identity in Christ
statement aloud
In Christ, we are people who look for joy and refreshment through others we meet as well as share joy and refreshment with them by face and words.
Closing Prayer
Close with thanks to God for these moments together.
Ask Him to bless the upcoming day, then…
GO – in JOY, with JOY anticipating JOY
Thursday, October 24, 2024:
Sometime During Your Day
Level 3: Savoring joys of the past.
Pondering Point
Many of us find joy when we see people make our friends and family happy. Such was the case for Paul regarding his son-in-the-faith, Titus. It is good n the soul to see relationships going well with loved ones. Immanuel journaling as a habit often has a positive outcome with family:
From the book Joyful Journey:
Immanuel journaling helps all relationships, and especially intimate connections in our lives. If we are married or have children, we understand that the daily grind of tasks versus nurturing relationships is hard to balance. An unbalanced life takes a toll on our work performance, health, children, academic pursuits and family. When conflict develops, we are usually directed to work on communication. We attempt to restore peace using communication skills. How effective is that? When we turn to others hoping that communicating will restore our peace, the road can be a little rough. When we use Immanuel journaling with God to restore our peace before we communicate with others, it can give us strength and wisdom. Many misunderstandings can benefit from slowing down and talking to God about our own fears and triggers. Once we have shalom inside, the referee of God's Spirit (Colossians 3:15) allows us to return to talking to others. Now we are sharing our peace instead of searching for it.
~ Wilder, Kang, Loppnow, Loppnow, Joyful Journey, page 45.
Journal Prompt:
Joy memory related to family and friends:
Key Words:
Prayer
Lord, I pray for joyful refreshment: For me, for my family, for my pastor and church family, and for my friends.
Reviewing Our Joy (evening)
Thursday, October 24, 2024
2 Corinthians 7:13
By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Pondering Point
This evening’s joy reminder revolves around things shared – shared encouragement, shared refreshment,
shared spiritual connections to one another in the joy of following Jesus. And shared gratitude – with each other and with God.
From the book Joyful Journey:
Practicing interactive gratitude is the easiest, fastest and even safest way of bringing positive changes to a powerless prayer life. Interactive gratitude also facilitates healing and restores our iSight*. Although at times God heals us instantaneously, most times healing happens as we practice loving interactions with God and His people.
~ Wilder, Kang, Loppnow, Loppnow, Joyful Journey, page 18.
Pray aloud
Thank You for the shared joy, refreshment and encouragement through the company I kept today. I appreciate You being central to all of it!
Review
Look back for ANTICIPATED or SURPRISE JOYS. You are training your brain to look for joy. This builds the habit. Recall the body sensations and emotion. This solidifies the habit. Remember: use an alarm. If necessary, review the explanation.
Read the identity in Jesus
statement aloud
In Jesus, we are people who look for joy and refreshment through others we meet as well as share joy and refreshment with them by face and words.
Evening Prayer
Thank God for blessing the day, ask for peaceful rest, then GO to sleep – in grateful JOY, anticipating new JOY tomorrow under His grace.