Inspired by . . . 31 days of JOY

Inspired by . . . a challenge Inspired by . . . Day 2: Adversity

Inspired by . . . 31 days of JOY

Welcome!

I’m joining The Nester, and several hundred other bloggers, in the 31 days writing challenge (#write31Days).

We begin today!

Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created

and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing. ~ Oswald Chambers*

As many of you may already know, JOY is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is a feeling, usually based upon and influenced by, our circumstances.

JOY is something that resides within. It is bigger, more powerful than our circumstances.

I feel like I need to say that again – out loud - in bold – JOY is bigger, more powerful than our circumstances!

If we extract a definition from the Oswald Chambers quote, happiness is based on success, and JOY comes when we are doing the will of God.

So, for what {or why} were we created?

In Acts 20:24 the apostle Paul said:

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,

so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus,

to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul was called to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Truly, this is the calling of all Believers, is it not? The High Calling. The reason we were created. The WHY.

The HOW, is different for everyone. Even those of us who may share the same vocation.

I’m pretty certain that God didn’t make another tent-maker like Paul!

Paul was also preacher, and a teacher.

He was the son of a Pharisee. He had trained under Gamaliel, the most highly-esteemed rabbi of all. All of this gave Paul a unique passion for the law, with a touch of grace. Only Paul could teach and preach like Paul. He was unique because of his past, because of his life experiences.

Just as each one of us are unique. Uniquely created. Uniquely called.

Being true to his calling is what brought Paul JOY.

Identifying our spiritual niche is the first step!

What does your HOW look like?

Are you a teacher? a preacher? a mom? a wife? an executive? a writer? a photographer? You get the picture! {wink}

I’d love it if you’d share about your spiritual niche below in the comments, or join the conversation on my Facebook page!

Blessings,