Have you ever felt like no matter what you do, you’re just a hamster on a wheel? All you do is spin, spin, spin. You never feel like things are going to change. You allow attacks on your heart. You find it difficult to let go. You forget to see the light. You just spin.
For me, it can be a huge struggle depending on the challenge I face. Sometimes it feels like things are going to get better but then I’m back to the place I was before. It’s like taking 10 steps forward and 20 steps backwards in a nanosecond.
The joy in my heart becomes diminished. It’s replaced by inexplicable heartache or panic. It’s an awful feeling. It is sometimes compounded by what an acquaintance calls a “flesh-attack”. So, appropro. We all have the few in our world that take joy in bringing us down.
When I was young, there was no doubt. I could brush off the attacks of my heart. My eyes full of light. My faith pure, untarnished. I could give up control. Now, I find it difficult. But, if I don’t, I end up back spinning out of control on my hamster wheel.
First song I heard this morning was joy., by for KING & COUNTRY. It was if the song was written for me. Maybe you’ll feel it was written for you, too.
I thought: “that’s exactly how I feel.” It wasn’t a coincidence. I know it was a message. A message to remind me to keep stepping in the light and allowing joy to fill my heart. Not fear. It was a reminder for me to denounce or deflect the “flesh attacks” that weaken my heart and mind.
As I walk through the valley of the night, light is in my next step. As I step into the light, I find joy in my heart. I hope you do too!
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued,
is always just beyond your grasp, but which,
if you will sit quietly, may alight upon you.”
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne ~
joy.
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
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 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 youI 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
Songwriters: Ben Glover,Joel Smallbone,Luke Smallbone,Matthew Hales,Seth Mosley,Stephen Kanicka,Tedd Tjornhom
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.,BMG Rights Management,CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
