3 Habits for Greater Gladness

I just finished reading Pollyanna, a book about a little girl who lived out the "Glad Game," a way of looking at the world to find the blessings among the burdens of life. 

Pollyanna is not just "kidlit." 

The book deals with how to live joyfully in the present in the midst of loss and pain and setbacks. 

Today, I saw in Colossians some instruction that takes Pollyanna's message to a deeper level. 

It's not just  mastering life in the present that enables us to live with greater gladness. It's also learning to deal with the past and the future.

Tucked away in Colossians 1 is a simple prayer that points us toward three habits of life that will enable us to live with more joy.

In the ESV, Colossians 1:11-12 has 39 words. At the very heart and center of the text is the word "joy" - preceded by 19 words and followed by 19 more. Joy is at the heart of 3 habits that can help deal with our past, present, and future. 

1. Dependence: Live in the present with strength from God (Colossians 1:11a ).
2. Gratitude: Think of the past with thanks to God (Colossians 1:12a ).
3. Optimism: Look to the future with hope in God (Colossians 1:12b ).

Ask God often for the grace to live this way. And watch your joy grow and grow.

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:11-12).