Love your enemy… Matthew 5:44 (TPT)
Pay It Back With Grace – Finding Joy Series – Part 6
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
In a world that tells us all is competition, and we must win the race; that happiness equals monetary success, fame, and fortune; that if we help the most vulnerable they will end up taking what is ours; that believes the myth of scarcity and skin deep beauty; that isn’t comfortable with silence and space and enough; that wants to ignore and deny pain and age and death,
Joy is an act of resistance.
When Jesus said:
“Love your enemy,
bless the one who curses you,
do something wonderful for the one who hates you,
and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.” (Matt 5:44 TPT).
He was telling his friends to use joy as a form of rebellion.
When terror wants to steal our peace, revel in the beauty of the life we still have.
When anxiety fills our mind with static noise, seek the joy of quiet and stillness. Drop into your breath; breathe joy deep into your belly.
When expectation insists you earn more and buy more and be more, rest in the truth that you are enough as you are. You don’t need to chase anything for fulfillment. You already have it within you.
When sickness is too hard and complicated, stay long into the night because the answer most needed is your presence.
When pain demands retribution and vengeance, pay it back with grace and forgiveness.
When the frailty of life begs you to turn your head away, hold it's face in your hands and grant the dying dignity and honor with your witness.
When governments and groups and committees decide who can stay and who needs to go, leave your door wide open. Set the table. Pour the wine.
“Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!” (Neh 8:10).
Because in these times, finding joy could be the most rebellious, revolutionary, and holy work we can do.
Go to Part 7 – A Holy Form of Rebellion »
Written by Lizzy
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