Determined

Hypocricy.

How often do we hear that word and just think of the Pharisees in the Bible and assume that we are never hypocritical?

Conviction.

How often do we hear that word and cringe because no one likes to be shown when they sin?

Convicted of hypocricy.

Well, those two words together...they make me cringe. That's for sure.

I like to give advice.

I'm pretty good at it..if I do say so myself.

Sometimes I think about the advice I give and wonder if I practice what I preach.

"Pray and seek the Lord's counsil. Be thankful through trials. Seek the will of God in all things."

Those are great words, but how often do we actually do that when we tell others to do? How often do we take our own advice?

Sometimes I wonder if I follow through on the encouragement I give.

"I'm praying for you!"

How often do you say that? ....And then not follow through.

That saying, "I'm praying for you", is thrown around much too flipantly. When you make such a serious promise like that, how often do you actually do it? Maybe it's just me, but I struggle with that. More often than not, I pray for my friends when I tell them I do..but sometimes, I forget. I'm not intentional about keeping my promise.

I have a friend. She is 16-years-old in reality, 6-years-old at heart, and 60-years-old in wisdom and knowlege.

She is the most intentional pray-er that I think I have ever met. She tells me on a regular basis that she is praying for me and she is one of those people that you just know she means it. She prays for the randomest people. All the time. She prays for the randomest things. All the time. She has pure love and joy in her heart for everyone she meets. If you are not blessed by her when you meet her, than you should check your pulse.

She's been through a lot of health issues in her 16 years of life. Recently she was diagnosed with a serious illness having to do with her blood circulation and so on. I don't understand it at all so I won't bother explaining it. But my point is that even through everything she has been through, she finds joy. She finds thankfullness. She finds a way to be the most encouraging person I have ever met. She has the gift of encouragement. I am convinced of it.

She truly practices what she preaches and she keeps promises like, "I'm praying for you."

Now my friend, Emily is her beautiful name, has the legal middle name of Nicole. But it wasn't long before her parents realized that this was not the right name. She is so full of joy that her parents knew that her middle name should be Joy. She is joyful always. Through it all. Emily Joy.

I want to learn from her.

I want to learn to be peaceful through anything.

I am convicted.

I am determined to pray more.

I am determined to take my own advice.

I am determined to seek the Lord through it all.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4

Follow Emily on what she calls her "Journey to joy". Be encouraged. Be thankful.
www.becauseyoushine.wordpress.com