When a friend of mine took a part-time receptionist job for a lawyer, she was told to choose the three days of the week she wanted to work. I was surprised when she chose Friday, but she explained, "I play on Fridays whether I'm at home or at work, so why not get paid to play?" While I'm may not agree with her in theory, I do know people in general are more lighthearted about work and school on Fridays. What if we as believers applied this principle and learned to rejoice "greatly in the Lord" whether we're at home or at work? How would Mondays differ from Fridays if we disciplined ourselves, both bodies and minds, to delight in our God seven days a week?
"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
Isaiah 61:10
The two devotional books I currently use dovetail beautifully on the relationship between body and spirit. Chambers says dark moods must be treated by physical changes: "Moods never go by praying, moods go by kicking." In other words, showing either the pluck to get up and get out into the light or the discipline to stop and rest go a long way in improving dark or defeated moods. Sarah Young, in Jesus Calling, addresses the heavy darkness we experience when we allow unconfessed sin to sit on our spirits. In this case, Jesus calls us to step back into His Light, hit our knees and confess so He can purify us "from all sin."
"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."
1 John 1:7
Lord, forgive us for picking and choosing when we'll delight in You and when we'll succumb to sin and selfishness. Forgive us for choosing our own dark paths when You've shown us the Light and the Way we should go. Teach us to delight in You in new ways today. Forgive our sins and refresh our spirits. May we experience the lightheartedness of Your Joy today - not just because it's Friday, but because You purify us and have placed Your Light in us.
In the Name of Jesus Whose followers need never walk in darkness again!
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, 'I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:12
Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Jesus Calling
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