Last time I left you with a question: “What does “filling up your joy tank” mean to you?”

I loved the response I got from Connie Short in the comment section. She was brilliant and I will tell you why.

But before we discuss that, let’s look at the risk that question can bring.

Risk

I believe the risk is to think about that question from our perspective alone. Asking questions such as …

“What do I want?” or “What can I do to increase my joy?”

Those questions may show we are taking responsibility for our choices. But…

… the danger is to turn from our focus on God to focus on “self.”

There is a risk that we will only look through our own perspective and interest. The risk is that we will seek to set up our kingdom instead of God’s Kingdom.

Going down a dangerous path

It is so subtle. Our thoughts slide gradually towards what we think we can control. We don’t set out to focus on our “self.” However, we are immersed in a world and culture where self-empowerment is in the air.

Our war isn’t against all the temptation in the world. Jesus has won that war for us. He defeated darkness and brought us into His Kingdom of light.

Our temptation is to forget that we are in Him and He in us. We are tempted to think independently from God and focus on ourselves. To believe the lie that filling our joy tanks is up to us. We better get busy! We step back into “doing more and trying harder.” We focus our attention on ourselves and what we need to do.

Jesus has won the war

Romans 8: For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. NIV

Following after the flesh is trying to do things on our own. Sin is independence from God. That is the temptation in everything.

Fortunately, because of His Holy Spirit, forgetting to think and act from our place in Him is a temporary blip. And He has given us one another to remind us.

2 Peter 1:2 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. NKJV

Why Connie’s comment was brilliant

“I fill up my joy tank by thanking God for His many blessings and getting out and enjoying his beautiful creation in nature. By enjoying the things I have and not worrying about what I don’t have. Connie Short

Connie didn’t try to figure out how to make joy. She didn’t try to do anything on her own. She stands and walks in His Kingdom giving thanks. She puts her focus on Who He is, What He does and how He cares for her.

Your Turn

How can you stand and walk in God’s Kingdom right now?

What attempts have you been making to set up your own kingdom? Repentance is changing your mind. Then your actions follow.

Dancing on God’s path, His Kingdom,

Shell

P.S. Connie is my birth mom. We were reunited when I was in my 30’s. Stay tuned for a wonderful God story.

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