Feeling like I was in the movie “Groundhog Day,” I bounded out my front door for yet another morning walk. The same pink daisies I saw yesterday stretched their faces up toward the sun.
The birds in the trees belted out an encore performance of their shrill chorus. I paced down the street, pushing myself to walk a little faster than the day before.
As I approached home again, huffing and sweating, I noticed my entire view consisted of my feet shuffling back and forth on the asphalt street.
Why was I looking at my feet? The ground was level—I was perfectly capable of walking with my head up. In fact, I remembered doing just that as I noticed the flowers and trees at the beginning of my walk.
I lifted my gaze up from the white tennis shoes and black asphalt to the green lawns and shrubbery—literally going from black-and-white to color. What a difference.
Oh, this is like my life. How often do I plod from chore to activity, forgetting to look up at Jesus?
I wondered how the colors in my day would brighten with the awareness of God at my side. What underlying shades of fear would vanish? What new possibilities would I see? From the glimpses I’d gotten in the past, I suspected my outlook would change in proportion to how much I included Jesus in my day.
Then I remembered the verse, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4), and noticed it didn’t say to just rejoice—it said rejoice in the Lord. I wasn’t sure what this meant, or how to do it. But one thing was certain, I couldn’t rejoice in the Lord with my eyes plastered on myself and my routine. If I wanted to experience God’s joy, I would have to be more consistent in looking to Jesus.
For the next month, or more, I plan on meditating on and praying about what it means to rejoice in the Lord. I have a feeling this will help me greatly in my quest for joy.
What do you think it means to rejoice in the Lord?
The Never Ending Gifts 
Our perception changes in proportion to how much we include Jesus in our lives. Great thought and an excellent set of articles! Enjoy the journey my friend…
By: Wendy Kaschak on July 1, 2013
at 8:05 pm
So happy to see you visited my blog. Thanks for your encouraging comments.
By: Kris Lindsey on July 2, 2013
at 5:05 pm
Love your descriptions and your reflection. Thank you for reminding me to get my eyes off of myself and on to Jesus.
By: Sue Tornai on July 2, 2013
at 4:19 pm
I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to remember to look more often to Jesus when the reward is so great. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, and I hope to see you soon!
By: Kris Lindsey on July 2, 2013
at 5:08 pm
Awesome and helpful Kris, still very hard to change my perception, but reading what you say does help me. thank you.
By: G Edward Allen on July 12, 2013
at 3:54 pm
Hi, Ed. Thanks for stopping by my blog again. It’s hard for me, also, to change my perception to God’s way of seeing things, but luckily God’s there to guide me as often as I look to Him, and I know He’s guiding you, too. Good to hear from you–thanks for commenting.
By: Kris Lindsey on July 12, 2013
at 5:08 pm
I loved the pictures that you included in this post! And your article is such a good reminder that we need to “look up”, instead of being bogged down in the day-to-day routine and details of living on earth, and include Jesus Christ in our day. You are an inspiration to me Kris.
By: christine on July 13, 2013
at 5:31 pm
Thanks for the feedback on the photos. I had fun putting them in. Glad you liked them. Thanks also for letting me know God’s message to me encouraged you, too.
By: Kris Lindsey on July 16, 2013
at 1:48 pm