Chara Joy

The Bible tells us in 

I have been reading a book by Ann Voscamp about a word, which is Eucharisteo. In that book, Ann tells us that this is a Greek word meaning “to be thankful”.  Ann tells us that the root word of Eucharisteo is charis~meaning grace. 

As I reflect on this word,  I can’t help but wonder, could it be that thanksgiving brings grace and grace brings thanksgiving? You can’t have one without the other?

And yet, Ann tells us that there is another word in there, chara~meaning joy! So could having a thankful heart bring joy? Is that where true joy comes from? We search the World high and low for joy, and on our own, we can’t seem to find it. Could it be just lying right there in front of us in Eucharisteo? Just maybe, if we begin with giving Thanks~Eucharisteo~true sincere thanks, in everything, not necessarily for everything, (As the Bible tells us) then we may discover Grace,~charis~God’s Grace. We may begin feeling that Grace, accepting grace. Then, could it be that joy~chara comes? Finally, true joy, from way down within. Not just temporary joy that material things may give only for a moment. But a deep staying joy, that can only come from above. As John 3:31 tells us: He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And in Psalm 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. It has been there all along just waiting to come out. We just needed Eucharisteo to discover it. Within that one single word are two other words, all three words being very impactful on our lives of living to the fullest. Our fullest most abundant life. Three words in one. That takes my mind to three beings in one- God the Father- God the Son- and God the Holy Spirit. Three being one. All being very impactful and crucial to us living our lives to the fullest- our fullest most abundant life. 

Living Eucharisteo doesn’t come naturally to us. We have too much flesh that we are carrying around to naturally be Thankful in everything. Romans 8:5-6 tells us :

We have to practice it. We have to choose it. Just as we have to choose to trust three beings in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God The Holy Spirit. That too is always right there within those of us who have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. We need to continue to practice trusting Him to guide us in everything. Trusting that His plans are higher than our plans. And His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, as Isaiah 55:9 tells us. 

So let us make it a daily practice to live an Eucharisteo life in everything, along with living a life of practicing to trust in His ways to guide and direct us in everything each and every day. 

This is an area that I truly need to continue practicing. It takes practice to form the habit of Eucharisteo, as it does not come natural. That not only am I able to be thankful for the good things that come, but because I may have the habit of Eucharisteo formed, I will then also be able to be thankful in every thing that comes. Good or bad. Because that is the Will of Christ Jesus concerning you and me.