Finding the Way for Choosing Joy for the Journey

Choosing joy for the journey is an attitude of the heart, not a determination of the circumstances. Just ask my husband.

The other day, my husband and I got stuck in traffic.

I pointed out the rainbow crossing the sky.

And then I started singing I Can See Clearly Now.

I was finding my way to enjoy the journey

… albeit a very SLOW journey under the circumstances.

Had my ducks all been in a nice, orderly row, it would have been easy to enjoy the journey.

Had my circumstances been blue skies and sunshine, it would have been easy to enjoy the journey.

Had my clarity been crystal clear and my provision overflowing, it would have been easy to enjoy the journey.

But it was easy to enjoy the journey, not because of what I saw in front of me (a line of unending taillights)

Or what was going on around me (a massive storm behind and beside)

I was enjoying the journey because I had made an intentional choice to enjoy the journey.

The Choice to Enjoy the Journey

If you aren’t enjoying the journey, it’s time to change rides. It’s posted on our front door as a daily reminder to stand in joy. Jesus said He wanted His joy to be in us so that our joy could be complete (From John 15:11)

But so many of us are just trudging along, surviving, and even trying to look up to joy.

I drive on the local college campus several times each week. When I stop at the crosswalks, the students have their heads down in their phones or stare directly ahead. They have solemn looks and scrunched shoulders. No engagement. No joy.

I remember laughing on the way to class because we walked as a group, even though most of us had different classes. I rarely remember walking alone to class, but even then, I suspect I was enjoying the journey.

Yesterday, before the rainbow, two young men looked up before they crossed. I held up my hands and pretended to be screaming in panic – and I was the one driving.

They laughed.

I laughed.

I still laugh when I think about it, and I hope they do as well.

Because we can play and laugh and sing and hum when we choose to enjoy the journey.

Foundation for Journey Joy

The world flipped upside down a few years back. Well, technically, it flipped upside down long before then. But for so many people, what was normal and expected went away. Relationships were hindered. Connections were stopped. And hearts hurt.

We are called to be in relationship – first with God and then through Him with others. And the last several years have put up barriers to that.

Excuses

Threats

Labels

Limits

Rules

And each barrier has moved us farther from the TRUTH.

The TRUTH

God designed you on purpose and for a purpose and for such a time as this. God called you as He designed you and not as you see yourself or as others have defined you. You have a YOUnique place in the Father’s business that can only be fulfilled by you in your way.

That’s it.

The rest of it is a distraction from who God designed YOU to be!

Building to YOUnique Design

My husband told me the other day that he just wanted to help others live an abundant life. He wanted to spend all of his time sharing the Abundant Life Program and leading the Abundant Life Program.

We know that a life leaning all in with God becomes a life lived in YOUnique design. It’s a life founded on Scripture and rooted in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That’s a powerful foundation that fuels you to enjoy the journey.

That foundation releases you into a freedom others will never understand.

Jesus said: If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:31-32

Journey Through the Noise

The world is loud. Between playing with the guys in the crosswalk and singing in the traffic jam, I had attacks of frustration and doubt.

Okay, it was worse than that.

I had a near panic attack because what I thought and what was were suddenly worlds apart.

FIX IT!

For me, that’s where worry and panic have their roots.

But before I went into full spiral mode, I recognized I had done all I could do and panic wouldn’t change that … but that is a story for another day (yesterday to be exact – check out the post HERE).

And I was being fed with devotionals from friends and a Bible study with some amazing ladies, and I still struggled to keep the focus.

The world is loud. I think I may have said that already. But it can’t be said enough.

Let’s say it again for those in the back: THE WORLD IS LOUD!

It’s time to flip this world upside right.

Now is the time to dare others to recognize and embrace their YOUnique God design.

This is THE such a time as this moment for living on purpose and for purpose.

Will you dare to help us fuel that fire of YOUnique design so we set foundations of joy in the hearts struggling to look up?

If your answer is YES, message us or visit AbundantLifeProgram.com.