Choosing Joy | Healthy Minds and Happy Hearts

January so far, feels as if the month has elongated well past 26 days. Although there are only 5 days left in the month, it feels a bit longer.I must say though, I am grateful for a slow first month to a new year. There has been much time allotted to thinking, reflecting, and the act of implementing new lifestyle changes and habits.It is a refreshing inhale of new possibilities and of a hope restored. At least for me, it is.As I think about last year, the year before, and pretty much the last 20 years of my life I am genuinely amazed at the amount of time that goes into developing habits, thoughts, emotions, and feelings that make up the sum of my life, my being, and even my emotional and spiritual state in life.With the plethora of lifestyle bloggers and YouTubers, I have been enlightened as well as through prayer and the Bible too. Truthfully, though, I see that some of the things I've allowed to take up space in my mind, heart, and soul do not have to persist and I don't have to aid in its occupancy any longer. I think of the scripture in John 10:10 which states, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10The Passion Translations says this, '" thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!"  John 10:10I realize that my life is my life, God has given it to me to utilize the potential he's given me as well as to steward the gifts, talents, and everything else to honor his Kingdom and point others to the beauty that is Christ.Two days ago, I started a 365 Day sort of devotional called Switch On Your Brain Every Day: 365 Readings for Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf who is a cognitive neuroscientist. She focuses on science and faith and how they coincide together. This book aligns with the truth of the Bible and the truth of science in how when we as human beings change our thinking, we can quite literally change the scope of our lives mentally and emotionally, which then leads to the manifesting of positivity and goodness rooted in Christ in our physical lives.It's beautiful to think on how when we take the time to understand how God crafted us, we can understand the complexities of life; its pain and beauty, and the ultimate growth that comes from each.My sweet, dear reader, life is not meant to be unbearably hard. It is not meant for torment, whether that be physical or mental. God is a God of an absolute pure and holy love that defies any kind of logic and any kind of brokenness. His love knows no bounds, there are no barriers, no gimmicks, there is just His love and our willingness to accept him and all that he has for us.I have to remind myself of this often. I am learning to trust in how God loves me, and I am choosing to believe it every day.So, for me in this glorious year of wonder and growth and trust in my Abba, I choose to think and ruminate on the goodness of his love and the sheer joy that comes from knowing myself the way God intended and knowing Him in return. I pray the same for you too! <3

Sincerely,

~A

*Featured Photo by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash.com