Monday, November 22, 2010

Seizing joy....

Ann Voskamp recently posted this excerpt from her new book on her blog.  It resonated so deeply for me that I had to post it here.

"and I know all our days are struggle and warfare (Job 14:14) and that the spirit-to-spirit combat I endlessly rage with Satan is this ferocious thrash for joy. He sneers at all the things that seem to have gone hideously mad in this sin-drunk world and I gasp to say that God is good. The liar defiantly scrawls his graffiti across God's glory and I heave to enjoy God... and Satan strangles and I whiten knuckles to grasp real Truth and fix that beast to the floor."

"God is good."  Some weeks I wrestle more than others to proclaim this.

How do you declare His goodness in your daily life?
I search for Him, eyes learning to focus in new ways through the viewfinder of my camera.
I do come, thirsty, to His Word, seeking, and finding Him, faithful and steady when life isn't.
I purposefully number His blessings in my life, recounting His faithfulness.
"For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands."
Psalm 92:4
How do you "grasp for Truth" and battle Satan in this "ferocious thrash for joy?"
Finding Him faithful here as I wrestle to find joy,
and Oh! the joy I do find!

Praying that you are experiencing and rejoicing in His faithfulness as well,

2 comments:

  1. Ann is an amazing artist with her words! It really is a struggle for joy! He IS good. You are an artist with your camera! This time of year reminds me of Psalm 19...

    The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
    Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they display knowledge.
    There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
    Their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

    His Glory overwhelms me!

    Thanks for encouraging me to find the joy around me.

    I am thankful for you,

    Susan

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  2. Wow, I loved that quote! Thank you for sharing. That is what I am doing with my book series. The battle with satan (I refuse to capitalize his name even though it's improper ;) is an ongoing battle. It is obvious that he is always at work trying to keep people thinking both he and God aren't real, and those of us that are Christians... well we know what he thinks of us. He works overtime trying to make us wonder if our God we so love has abondoned us. When I need to feel God close there are many things I do... I hug my kids and take a deep breath. I get out my camera, like you, and go looking for Him, I (this is kind of a given) get out my Bible and devour his Word, letting it fill me. *hugs*

    Kristy

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