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Joy Cheaters Today’s Treasure: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 15:11). Few people have ever experienced God in the same way Elijah did, yet we see him suddenly filled with fear and depression. He was not living in sin, yet he had lost his joy. All of us are at risk of losing our joy, and there are plenty of joy quenchers available to accommodate us! Based on what Scripture tells us about Elijah’s life, let’s consider circumstances which may place us in the high-risk category for losing our joy. We may lose our joy… When our talk exceeds our walk. Certainly things did not start out this way for Elijah, but in order for him to sink to the low described in 1 Kings 19, somewhere along the way, his mouth and his heart most likely parted company. These first two points are closely related. We rarely know the exact moment that our output begins to exceed our intake, but a sure sign of lack of fuel is a talk that exceeds our walk. When we become “wonders junkies.” Elijah had grown accustomed to seeing God in the midst of magnificence. He had seen God in such miraculous circumstances that he missed Him as the joy in the midst of the mundane. He looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but he did not find Him there. I am convinced the most intimate times we ever will spend with God will be listening to His gentle whispers. It is there that we will find true joy. When we are exhausted. What on earth would have caused Elijah to run from his circumstances rather than to his God? Surely God, who had already worked so many miracles in Elijah’s life, could have handled Jezebel! But Elijah was exhausted. He had neglected to rest or eat. Notice God’s tender care for Elijah. God created the body. He knows we cannot function well when it’s neglected. Are you neglecting your rest? What about eating? In our culture, we rarely neglect to eat; however, we neglect to eat for the body’s benefit. Just a little food for thought. When we feel all alone. Elijah felt as if he were the only one standing up for God, yet, by comparison, he had it easy! All the other prophets of God were holed up in caves! As you’re growing in Christ, beware of feelings that tempt you to believe you are all alone and that no one else wants to serve or love God as you do. Just because someone does not share our “cause” or our personal “passions” does not set us apart. When we view ourselves as the only spiritual persons we know, we’re setting ourselves up for a fall. When we allow God to train us so that receiving and obeying His Word becomes our “high,” we will know the fullest expressions of joy. Psalm 15:11 tells us that God will fill us with joy in His presence, with eternal pleasures at His right hand. If you’ve lost your joy, it’s right where you left it—in His presence. Remember, He is our joy. If you’ve never lost it, praise Him and continue to depend on Him. Lord, You are my joy. Thank You for showing me how I tend to lose that joy. Help me quickly identify the joy cheaters when they come to take over. Please bring me into Your presence and open my ears to the whisper of Your loving voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Adapted from Living Beyond Yourself, by Beth Moore, pages 82-83. Nashville: LifeWay Press, 1998. Used by permission.
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