Turning Cartwheels of Joy

 Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. As believers, we should have joy in our hearts all of the time. There should never be a lack of joy, since it comes from our relationship with God, not our circumstances. I wonder how many of us have found that type of walk with the Lord, so that we have the fruit of the Spirit increasing in our life all of the time. Habakkuk had that kind of relationship with God. He was able to proclaim loudly to all of God's people that even if the crops failed and the livestock were gone, he was going to be singing joyful praise to God and turning cartwheels of joy to His Savior God. (Habakkuk 3:17,18) I pray we will learn from His example.

Habakkuk was depending on God for everything. He was trusting God for his food and for his livelihood. Yes, it can be discouraging to a farmer when the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen. It is very difficult when the wheat fields are stunted, so there is less wheat at harvest. It can bring financial hardships when the sheep and cows are gone. However, those things are not our security. God is our Source. He is our Provider. We are to look to Him for our sustenance, not material things. We must be able to trust that He owns all of the cattle, and He is able to provide in His own unique way. Our part is to walk with Him in faith and to allow His joy to fill our hearts. How? We know that He is all we need. Once we have Him, our eternity is secure, and we can be sure He will direct us and provide for us, as we follow Him in faith. Therefore, we have a basis for continual joy, and when we express it, that brings glory to God, and shows everyone around us the greatness of our Lord and Savior.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Zephaniah 1-3 and Haggai 1.