So many times I forget that In his presence is fullness of joy. it is so easy to focus on the negative when things are not going the way they should. I run into this a lot as a contractor. Many times I have to go back to the Serenity prayer.
Psalms 16:11 (ESV) 11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Navy SEALs have a unique attribute. When they face the prospect of failure, they shift to joy. This mindset helps them become creative in that situation. Paul Young
How does that look like to us. If you find yourself in a crisis and you stay joyful then you can become creative. Listen to Holy Spirit and walk through it.
If you’re in a crisis and you start looking into the future at all of the what ifs, then you take yourself out of the present.
You might be in panic mode. I touched on this the other day when I said “future tripping”. You worry and you panic. Now you’re experiencing the Prophet from Darkness. He shows you a future without God because you’re not in the present anymore.
Joy in Hebrew “שִׂמְחָה śimḥâ” of God
Another way to look at it. This is also a form of negative meditation.
The next time you’re in a crisis large or small stay joyful listen to Holy Spirit don’t get caught up in the negative meditation, the future tripping, whatever fits the bill
Stay in the present.
FYI I did not coin the phrase future tripping. I got that from Paul Young the author of The Shack
Serenity Prayer “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”
Matthew 6.6 