These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.

John 15:11

A few years ago, I bought my husband a pendant for his keyring that read:

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

I bought it because he was struggling to find his niche, his calling, you know, that one thing that you know in your heart of hearts is your purpose in life. When I saw the pendant in an online store, it reminded me of Romans 12:11-13 which reads:

“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with God’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.”

The statement “Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire” reminds that we can become so busy in the day-to-day that our routines begin to use up all of the oxygen that should be fueling the fire in our souls. As the fire within falters, so does our joy.

I know this was certainly true for me in my career. After six years in a leadership position, I found myself struggling with frustration and hopelessness. With 18 years and multiple degrees and sacrifices invested, I didn’t want to admit it, but I’d lost the joy that first drew me to the profession, so after much prayer, I stepped away last year to study God’s Word more deeply and focus on ministering to others through writing and through my local church body.

Little did I know that God would use the past six months to minister to me, to rekindle what sets my soul on fire and redirect my passion and energy in new ways but in the same career I thought I was leaving.

Sweet friend, I share this to point out that it’s so easy to fall into routines and lose sight of why we do what we do and of who our hearts beat to serve: God and each other. BUT GOD – how I love those words together! – GOD always makes it so easy to rekindle that fire, to renew our joy.

This truth reminds me of a song by for KING & COUNTRY titled “joy”. The chorus goes like this:

"Gotta get that fire, fire back in my bones
Before my hard heart turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I'll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three:
Oh hear my prayer tonight
I'm singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice
Let me testify
Oh hear my prayer tonight
Cuz this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice
And I choose JOY!"

Dear heart, whether it be day or night, these are words worthy of raising to the Lord. There is never a better time than now to express your need for His love and strength to feed your fire, to restore your joy. The joy that comes from God is the joy that Paul speaks of in Romans 12 – a joy that is steadfast and contagious because it is fueled by the One True King.

Beloved, ask God today to show you what sets your heart on fire.

Be hopeful. Be patient. Be faithful. Choose JOY!