As a companion to yesterday’s devotional, I’d like to talk about celebrating!
While walking out years of challenges and struggles, I’ve learned another very useful thing…now is always a good time to celebrate!! Find something to celebrate in every day!!
I have discovered the power of enjoyment. It is far too easy to get bogged down in all that is wrong. That is a slippery slope. Years of falling down that slope can result in a bitter heart, but I’ve discovered the antidote to bitterness is celebration! God’s hand seems to be moved by one who learns to find pleasure in all moments. The ones who look for things to celebrate and enjoy. I have become one of those people. I look for the blessing in each day and that’s what I allow my mind to rest upon. I don’t dwell on the troubles or trials. Instead, I look for a victory or a moment to celebrate.
During our lean times, I search out pockets of fun! It’s such a useful practice and it helps teach my family to be very grateful. My kids will delight in the smallest present they receive. They will openly rejoice over the tiniest victory. I’ve deliberately sown into that. The atmosphere of our home is so affected by my heart. As the mother of this home, I am tasked with creating a positive environment. I am responsible for lifting my head and facing life with victory in mind. Find things to celebrate is a key to this.
Living life this way leads us to celebrate each other so well. We encourage and celebrate all the wins. Our family doesn’t do the “participation award” lifestyle, but we do look for moments where my kids have done real things that deserve accolades, and if any of us receives a gift of any kind, you will see all of us celebrating that.
We’ve learned to love well, and part of loving means being wiling to not only be celebrated ourselves, but to also allow others to be celebrated. On birthdays, if we go somewhere like Chuck E Cheese or Incredible Pizza, then all the tickets earned, go toward the person who is being celebrated. It’s a seemingly small gesture, but it’s really helped the kids to die toward a measure of selfishness, knowing they will earn tickets and give them away instead of receiving their own prize. This is just one small example, but it’s been a powerful one for us.
Prayer Moment: I challenge you to find something to celebrate today! Whether this is your best day ever or your hardest day yet, find the joy. Therein lies your strength. Look for something to intentionally celebrate. Encourage others around you. Become a voice of light and life, instead of just another voice echoing doom and gloom. Pull up your bootstraps and let God be victorious in your life. Defeat is not your identity. Christ is your identity…Now go act like it 😊
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133
365 Days in the Presence 