The first step that I am taking is one that I have started and stopped several times. I am going to bed early. I know that I don't get enough sleep. I have talked before about the fact that I love late nights. But late nights and 3am wake up calls don't work. I have started to go to bed by 9:30. I know that isn't "early", but for me, who was staying up til 10 or 11 each night, this is a huge change. I can feel it already this morning. I woke up at my normal 3 instead of getting to sleep in until 7 today. And truly, I feel good. I might need a little nap later today, but for now, I am rested and recharged.
The next thing that I am doing to reclaim my joy is taking care of myself. I have been seeing my chiropractor again (that is a joy in and of itself). I have an appointment with my medical doctor later today. Not something that I am looking forward to, but I have some issues to discuss with him. I know that he will recommend some things that I don't want to do, but I need to do them if I want to be healthy. And for me, if I am not feeling good, I am not able to feel much joy. I also need to get back to eating healthy and some sort of exercise. It's time to jump back onto the bandwagon...again!
The biggest thing that I am going to do to find my joy, is to spend quiet time with my Bible. I started a new plan in 2016 and did really well for a few weeks. I have a reading plan for each morning and evening. And then I stopped. I got to busy. I had other things that were more important. And I didn't open my Bible for two weeks. I became cranky and letting the little things bother me. I miss that quiet time with God, His Word, and my devotions. So I started the day reading....and joy was in front of me.
I don't make promises often, but I have to promise myself that I will make joy part of my daily life. I know that there will be times that joy doesn't seem to apparent to me, but I need to find joy in all situations. I need to make joy part of me, so that others can see the joy that I have. I need to share my joy with others...starting with my family. I want to be that person who makes others feel joyful. I want to end with the verses that reminded me about joy this morning. I hope that they remind you to feel joy as well!
"Let me hear joy and gladness..."
Psalm 51:8a
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and that your joy may be complete."
John 15:11
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