J.O.Y.

I once was at a friend’s house, and they had the word JOY displayed in big metal letters on a shelf in their living room. I thought it was cute and the reminder to be joyful is always a good reminder. But then they explained an acronym for that word.

Jesus

Others

You

If our lives are lived in this way, with these three things in this order, we will feel more fulfilled and joyful!

If our focus is on ourselves, the people in our lives will not be treated with the love and respect they deserve as someone who has been created by God. And if our focus is first on others before God, our relationship with Him will be neglected.

But when we prioritize taking time to be quiet with God, study how He calls us to live, and let Him change our hearts, we will learn how to love and serve others well.

Comparison and feeling less than in general have been life-long battles for me. I remember one conversation I had with God about it. I was angry with Him. I felt like He had given everyone else but me, a fun personality, a voice that people listened to, wonderful gifts and talents, and general likeability. I felt like He had forgotten all of those things when He created me. I cried, and paced, and yelled, as much as one can do when other people are close by.  

The one thing I kept thinking/asking Him was, “If everyone else matters to You, then don’t I?” I wanted to believe it. I tried to believe it.

There’s a phrase my mom tells me and my siblings a lot. She says, “What you focus on grows.” When my focus is on myself, doubts come easily, insecurities seem to be verified over and over because I’m living life with the lens of always questioning if I matter and trying to prove to myself that I do.

When my focus is on Jesus, my love for Him grows. I learn to be grateful for the gift of the cross, and every other blessing He gives daily that I’m blinded to when I’m only thinking about myself. I learn to see the value and beauty He has placed in every other human being on the planet. And I also learn to view myself in the right way. I realize I’m nothing without Him, but how amazing it is that He chose me because He loves me.   

He doesn’t love me because of what I do. Because the fact is, I make mistakes. A lot. I think about the crafts and pictures that kids make. We smile and say things like, “That’s beautiful,” when the pictures aren’t always the cutest. 😉 They love what they make. They don’t see the imperfections.

God feels the same way about us.

He knows we’re sinners, but in Hebrews 8:12 He says, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more.”

I love how God pricks our hearts and tells us when something is off in the way we’re living. Sometimes I push it away because I would rather live like I’m in charge. But when I listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice, I can learn how to align my heart with His. And when it is aligned, Jesus, Others, and Myself will all be in the proper places.