I’ll admit there are some things I really wish would happen, some things I have waited and wanted for years. I’m patient at times, not so much on some days, because some days are hard and so very long and the wait is really long, really, really, really long… and did I mention it’s been a really long time?

Sigh…

Something happened to an author friend of mine and I wanted what she got. I want that! Seeing the success of those who succeeded seems to make the wait of those waiting on their success even harder and longer. And yet there are so many more people who are waiting, hoping, and fighting through each and every day, who didn’t get what they hoped they’d get, who wonder if they will ever get what they are hoping they will get, and are questioning why they should wait when the wait takes SO VERY LONG!

Sigh…

As I sat at my desk staring at the computer screen having a small pity party, contemplating my friend’s success (which by the way is very deserved), I remembered what Jesus said in Luke 6:31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” and Paul told us to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”

Hmmm…

So I pushed aside my sadness, congratulated my friend, and passed on her good news to others. An interesting thing happened … as I shared in her joy, I felt a spark of joy. And I realized, one of the fruits the Holy Spirit gifts us with is joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength, and Jesus said “give and it will be given to you.”

That is what I really want – I want to share in the joy of Jesus. So by gifting the joy of Jesus, I am gifted with the full-throttle, pressed down, shaken together joy of Jesus. Therefore, while I continue to wait, I will rejoice with those who rejoice, and I will treat others the way I want to be treated by gifting them with the joy of Jesus.  

Do you want that? Do you want the joy of Jesus? Get Jesus, you get joy. Gift the joy of Jesus, and your joy multiplies!

“Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” ~ Luke 6:38 (AMP)

From One Lit Step: Devotions for your journey https://amzn.to/2XXr4So