Joy that Walks Forward
Hi there, friend, well bless my boots and keep ‘em marchin’, look at you steppin’ up on this ol’ front porch like you just wandered in from a long walk and smelled somethin’ good simmerin’ in the kitchen. Pull up a chair that creaks just enough to prove it’s done lived a full life. If you could see that lil’ ol’ chipmunk right over there dartin’ across the yard like it’s real late for a meetin’ with a lil’ ol’ woodpecker, you’d know the Lord has a way of teachin’ us through the smallest critters. So, settle in, friend. We’re about to stroll through a truth that’ll stick to your heart like sap on a cedar tree.
Psalm 119:1 says, “Joyful are people of integrity who follow the instructions of the Lord.” Now that might surprise folks who think God’s commands are about as fun as an ol’ mule tryin’ to figure out how to square dance. Plenty of people, believers included, get hung up on the “Thou shalt nots.” They picture God as a cosmic party pooper, standin’ there with a clipboard makin’ sure nobody has too much excitement. But that idea didn’t come from God. It came from the same serpent that slithered up to Eve and whispered, “Did God really say you must not eat from any tree?” in Genesis 3:1. That rascal played on her fear of missin’ out before she even knew she had one.
The truth is that God’s instructions ain’t no kind of shackles. They’re real invitations. They’re the very things that push the buttons of joy that He installed in us. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” And Psalm 19:11 says, “By them your servant is warned, in keeping them there is great reward.” That there verse fits this message like a lil’ ol’ rabbit fits right into a briar patch. God’s commands downright protect us, guide us, and lead us straight into joy.
Paul understood this when he wrote in 2 Timothy 2:22 tellin’ us, “Run from youthful lusts and instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.” That there’s not a list of restrictions. That there’s a list of pathways to joy. And in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Paul tells, “Be on guard, stand firm, be courageous, be strong, and do everything with love.” Every one of those instructions sho’-nuff’ moves us forward. They plum aren’t about sittin’ still. They’re about growin’, walkin’, and livin’ with purpose.
So, if we only focus on what not to do, we’ll be missin’ out on the joy that comes from what God invites us to do. Joy is found in obedience, not avoidance. It’s sho’-nuff’ found in walkin’ with the Lord, not tiptoein’ around sin.
Father, thank You for Your instructions that guide, protect, and bless me. Teach me to embrace what You invite me into and to walk in the joy You designed for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Well alright then, friend, look at you sittin’ here with that thoughtful sparkle in your eyes. As you step off this porch, let the Lord steady your steps the way a tall pine stands firm even when the wind gets mighty rowdy. You don’t need a whole wagonload of ideas. Just carry the one truth He tucked into your heart today. Joy grows wherever obedience is planted. Now go on and meet the rest of your day with the quiet confidence of someone who knows the Lord Himself is walkin’ right beside them.
With joy,
Gwen
