Joy!

My mom called again this morning, once again by the prompting of the Spirit.

“Do you ever pray for joy, Kevin?” she asked.

I had to confess that I seldom do.  I guess deep down I believe that, since joy is a fruit of the Spirit, God will give it to me when He wants.  Sometimes He does and sometimes He does.  It’s up to Him.

A few hours later, while on my way to the store, I thought about what mom had asked.  I felt the prompting of the Spirit to ask for joy; but I was reluctant.  I think something in me likes being grumpy at God.  He has allowed so much pain in my life….

Nevertheless, I asked God to give me joy.

Seconds later, a song came on the radio by “King and Country.”  I had heard an interview with the group a couple weeks ago.  They told of how they had sat down to discuss the album before making it.  “What do we want to be the central message of this album?” they asked themselves.  “Joy” was their answer.  This album would be about joy!  In fact, they titled the album “joy”!  (sic)

The song from that album that played was entitled “Let it Move”  I quote all of the lyrics below, but it ends with the words of the old song, “I need the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.  I need the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay.”  I sat in the car until the end of the song, soaking in the joy that God had just bestowed up me, in response to my prayer.  Then, I walked (joyfully!) into the store.

But God wasn't done answering my prayer.  In the store, I struck up a conversation with an older man who simply loved to talk.  But he was so – you guessed it – joyful that I couldn’t help but listen.  I learned about his children, his eight siblings, his father (who was murdered when he Jim – that is his name – was eleven.  He told me about their family tobacco farm on which he had grown up and worked in eastern Kentucky.  He told me about the thirty-seven (37!) surgeries he has had.  “I’ve twice had my throat cut by a woman,” he said with a wink, pointing the surgery scares on his neck.

At one point, I felt the strong nudge by the Spirit to ask, “Are you a follower of Jesus?”  I had no particular reason to think he might be – except for his evident JOY!  “Oh, my yes!”  he said, without hesitation.  He told me all about the church he grew up in and about his baptism.  He went on and on.  We would still be talking, blocking other shoppers in the aisle, if I hadn’t had to move on.

The only thing I could think of as he talked was The Bema, which I reference in an earlier blog post.  (Watch it!)  Someday I will hear all about this man’s life and its impact on thousands and thousands of people.  What a joy he is!  He is going to be highly praised by God!

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer for joy, Lord!


Lyrics of "Let it Move" by King and Country.

Lately, I've been reading, watching the nightly news
Don't seem to find the rhythm, just wanna sing the blues
Feels like a song that never stops

Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones
Before my heart, heart, turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I'll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice

And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move you, let it move you
Yeah, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you

Yeah-eh, back when I was young, my eyes were full of life
But now that I am older, I live at the speed of light
Feels like the cycle never stops
Feels like it's never gonna

Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones
Before my heart, heart, turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I'll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three

Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice

And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Yeah, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of night
Oh, with You by my side, I'm stepping into the light
I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you

I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay

And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Oh, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of night
Oh, with You by my side, I'm stepping into the light
I choose joy
Go let it move you, go let it move you, go let it move you

I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay

Do you know someone who is suffering physical or emotional pain who would be encouraged by this blog? Then please send them the link by clicking the envelope below, where you can also share it on Twitter and Facebook.