It's Time to Celebrate!!

"From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!" (Psalm 113:3)

Do you ever think about the fact that we are created to wonder at life? It's so easy to drift into habits and patterns, and while routines are good, sometimes they crowd out time to stop and wonder at this incredible earth our God made for us! And I'm talking about developing a whole mindset of wonderment and celebration, not just one day where you find a couple things to appreciate.

I like to think back to when I was about seven...my whole life was full of curiosity and excitement! If there was a plan for the next day, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. If we had popsicles or ice cream, the day would automatically be written off as a good one. I'm sure I had a lot more exclamation marks in my first little journal than I usually have now! 

Personally, I think celebration is a huge, huge part of living life, especially as a Christian. We have every reason in the world to celebrate, to wonder, to be in awe of everything around us. Even when they were wrapped in cold, heavy chains, with their lives potentially ebbing away  fast, Paul and Silas sang to Jesus. They celebrated, even in prison. In prison.  

That's another amazing thing - we're not only free to celebrate, but we're free to celebrate no matter what else is happening! Sometimes the most painful trial brings the deepest joy. 

So much beauty of life is found in celebrating it, which starts first by yourself with God's word. Jesus is the whole reason why we have anything to celebrate, so why wouldn't we start by diving deeper into our relationship with Him, and learning more about His purposes and His will? Nothing can replace it! 

Celebrating looks different every day. It could be dancing around the living room, taking a walk or a short run to get outside and breathe in the sunshine, or taking a bubble bath, or laughing with your friends and family! It could be just choosing to smile and laugh instead of giving in to frustration. It could be as extravagant as you can imagine, but most of the time it's something little that brings the most profound joy. Sometimes it's during an afternoon by yourself, and sometimes you get to celebrate with a houseful of people. Maybe right now you get to celebrate a life that's blooming with joy, or maybe you're singing with Paul while trapped in a storm. But we're free from sin, so let's celebrate!