it's tax time!!! - Have you lost your joy?

by Frances J. Harvey, Director of Operations, Turning Point Counseling

Each year at this time you don’t have to drive far to see someone standing on a corner with a big sign pointing in the direction of a tax service wanting your business – and this year is no exception. Every day on my journey to work as I reach a certain corner, THERE HE IS – dancing on the corner swinging the big sign , not to mention being dressed up in a bright green outfit that resembles the statue of Liberty! Each morning as I drive by I tend to chuckle and think, that must be such a drag of a job!

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However, today I saw him through different eyes though.  He had the biggest, happiest smile on has face (as he has all week-long) and waves to everyone that drives by, doesn’t even have the earplugs in for an ipod and probably is  only making minimum wage! So what hit me was – his smile was real!  He truly exuded a grateful spirit being out there doing his job!  He was doing it as best he could and with joy!
As I continued on my way I thought about how many times I complain or moan about having to drive so far everyday to work, how tired I am at the end of the day, how I, at times, have lost sight of being grateful for having such an amazing opportunity to be a part of a ministry I call my “job”,….how, blah, blah. blah!  Then I thought, I need to do as unto the Lord! My perspective needs to change.  Instead I need to be grateful for having a nice reliable car to get me to work, that I have breath each day to get up and go and good health, and how I have been chosen by God to do work for Him! Yes, perspective – and shifting my focus.

It is so easy to get in a rut in life.  We wake up, have breakfast, do devotions, pray, get ready and leave to start our day.  Most of the time drive the same route to and from work.  Then get to office and work until noon, have lunch, go back to work and leave at 5pm.  Or maybe you are a housewife or stay at home mom.

Once in the rut, the complaining and grumbling becomes easy, we open the door of opportunity for the enemy to get us distracted and focus on our self and before you know it we have lost our joy!

What Causes Loss of Joy?

Our focus, or center, is off kilt.  We have lost sight of what truly matters in life.  Scripture tells us that we are to work as unto the Lord.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”    Colossians 3:23-24 In other words He is saying in any and all situations or conditions, do your best no matter what! God sees all and He will reward accordingly.  We are to honor Him by working with integrity, good work ethics, honesty and doing the job He has put before us with everything that is in us! He has you where you are for a reason – are you looking for the opportunities or asking Him what He has for you?

Wow,  was I convicted.  But that’s a good thing because it has reminded me to keep my focus on Him and not my circumstances. God has a plan for me, work to be done in which He wants to use me and if I spend my time grumbling or complaining about my circumstances then that work gets put on the back burner – exactly what the enemy wants to happen!

How to Get Back My Joy

Here are some verses to meditate on next time you find yourself being tempted to grumble or complain.  Write them down or print them out on paper and tape them on your computer or at your desk where you can easily see them.  Let them be a reminder that we are to work as “unto the Lord” and WHO we are serving .  We need to get back to our purpose and get back to being affective for Christ.

READ THE WORD

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps forjoy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 30:11
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Psalm 33:1
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.

Psalm 86:4
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.

Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are so many more to share but not enough room!  You can go to this websitehttp://classic.biblegateway.com/ and do a keyword search on the word joy to find more!

PRAY – ASK FOR HELP

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”   Matthew 21:22
When you find yourself in that ‘rut’ once again, STOP and pray!  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you.  Ask for a renewed spirit of joy. Call a friend, family member or Pastor and ask them to pray for and with you.

BE ACCOUNTABLE

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  Proverbs. 27:17
Find someone that is willing to be you partner and keep you accountable and will be honest to let you know when you “loose your focus”.

 
So remember… DO YOUR BEST as unto the Lord!  That is exactly what the guy on the corner in the Liberty outfit is doing!


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www.turningpointcounseling.org,
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Compliments of
Turning Point Counseling
1370 N. Brea Blvd., Ste. 245 - Fullerton - CA - 92835
800-998-6329 - TurningPointCounseling.org