*Note: I do not take credit for this phrase. All credit goes to John Piper, whose book When I Don't Desire God; How to Fight for Joy had the phrase and has been very helpful to me.
This post is not meant to be a book report, but an encouragement to those who are struggling with joy in everyday life. John Piper's book has been a source of encouragement to me, and I hope he won't be offended if I pass that encouragement on (and in the course of that encouragement, recommend the book).
Most of us who are wives, mothers, or any woman who has something or many things in her life that drain energy, have many demands on our time and energy. So probably the title of my post makes one of you want to say, "More fighting? I already have to battle my toddler who has far more stamina than I could hope for." I don't mean that kind of fighting. I mean the kind that requires complete and utter dependence on God, the kind of battle against our "besetting sins" and "bosom enemies;" the battle for joy in the Lord and in the life He has provided. I mean the fight to keep your mind and heart on God, to stay in God's Word, to stay in prayer.
If you struggle like I do every day in these areas, let me encourage you to take time out of your day to read your Bible, pray, cry, whatever you need to do. If you think adding a time to be alone with the Lord is just one more thing to add to your list, let me encourage you to evaluate how you spend your time. What TV shows do you watch? How much time are you on Pinterest? Perhaps take time to list everything you do in a day, a week, a month, and then evaluate what is most important. Be ruthless in your evaluation because eliminating some less important things will give you more time for peace and quiet with the Lord.
Only then can you have true peace and joy in your soul-even when you've just been beaten by your three year-old.
