Stop and Smell The Flowers

[bluidkiti]

Senior Living

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. --Psalm 118:24

Have you ever taken time out of your day just to stop and literally smell the flowers in your garden, listen to the birds singing, or relax long enough to feel the cool breeze outside? If you truly take the time to do things like this each day, you’ll be amazed at how renewed—emotionally and mentally—you’ll begin to feel.

When your joy and passion for life have been depleted, take action! Everyone goes through seasons of discontentment and gloom, and there are many reasons for its cause. It could be a stressed relationship, work problems, frustration or difficulties in a relationship with your children, personal criticism, or illness.

When trying times creep up on us, our joy seems to dissipate. You’ve probably heard the story of Jonah. He said about life: “It would be better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:8.) Despite Jonah’s difficulties, even spending some time in the belly of a whale, God brought Him out of his unhappiness and restored his joy.

When your joy seems to have disappeared, seek solitude and silence with God. A hectic lifestyle is never a good solution for finding joy that has been lost. “Be still before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:13), and refresh your spirit through Him. Think about God’s many blessings in your life, especially the people you love and the people who love you. When you’re feeling like Satan has taken away your happiness, remember the declaration in Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to show you an opportunity where you can get away and be alone with Him. Thank Him for the joy and blessings in your life that can only be found in Him.