A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,


though there are no sheep in the pen


and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
~ Habakkuk 3:17-18 ~


Somehow (you know me!) I began a series on the Fruits of the Spirit a couple of weeks ago using WFW. My first Fruits of the Spirit's post asked, "How does my garden grow?" I talked about the different fruits and how important they are as a gauge that we are living authentic Christian lives. The first fruit of the spirit listed is "Love". I posted that one here if you want to go back for a quick re-read.

This week's fruit is "Joy". I checked http://www.biblegateway.com/ and found that the word joy or a form of the word joy came up 242 times in the NIV translation of the Bible.

This second fruit of the Spirit is exciting and should be like a spring bubbling over in us, flowing from the River of Life within us; however, too often, we find that joy also comes in the midst of adversity, not from our circumstances but from our heart.



The prophet Habakkuk described some pretty dire straits in the verse above, and then proclaimed that even in the midst of them he would yet joy in the Lord. The transliterated word for joy that's used in the verse above is "Lyg", which means, "to rejoice, exult, be glad (Qal); to rejoice; to tremble (from fear)".


Can you remain joyful in the midst of trials? Can you keep a heart of worship for God when the olive crop fails and there are no sheep in the pen? It's hard, but it can be done.


Job experienced this, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." ~ Job 1:21 Job had lost everyone and everything (but his wife) and still praised the name of the Lord.



How do we have joy in the midst of adversity? The same joy Habakkuk and Job had?


I have some thoughts on that!


1. Stay in the Word - Read your Bible daily. We have to water our hearts, making sure the roots get saturated, so it will be healthy and strong, storing up water for times of drought and famine (adversity).

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." ~ Psalm 1:2-3

2. Pray - God hears our prayers. Often in our prayers one of the things we do is praise God. Praise restores joy to our hearts and reminds us to keep a joyful attitude.

"He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea." ~ Psalm 102:17

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ~ Romans 12:12

3. Practice - Make it a habit to practice joy. Find joy in the everyday things of life, and when adversity comes at you, you can have that joy almost as a second nature. Think about joy and how you can apply it in everyday life.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ~ Philippians 4:8-9


Heavenly Father, help me tend my garden of the fruit of the Spirit purposefully for You. Help me to abide in You and to live a life that imitates Your precious love and joy. I know life on earth was not an easy life for You, and that even more than Habakkuk and Job, You faced the greatest adversity of all. You gave me a great example to live by, penned in Hebrews 12:2 reminds me: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank YOU!"

Please visit Amy Deanne, the host for Word Filled Wednesdays, for some incredible pictures and Scripture brought together. You are in for a blessing!

Love,