Shout with Joy to the Lord and Keep Your Focus on Him

I started to put Bj’s collar on him when he began to jump in the air with excitement. He knew what was happening! Barking his beagle bugle horn he alerted the entire valley it was time to chase the ball! I couldn’t open the gate fast enough for him to leap down the steps and take off to the field where we usually walk. Bj barks the whole time as loud as he can because he can’t contain his excitement!

Down the hill he ran after the bright yellow ball, his legs looked like they were out running the rest of his body. We made it to the creek and the light in his eyes shined brighter than the sun. With a big smile on his face he chased the ball over and over never wanting to stop. Until he took his usual creek break to cool down before the next round.

He took his ball and laid down in the water, wagging his tail and throwing water in every direction. By the happiness beaming from his face I knew that’s all he wanted to do all day. Playing ball is his favorite thing to do and I know he looks forward to this time with me everyday. 

As I stood and watched him I couldn’t help but think about how that is how we should be with God. From the time we finish reading our Bible for the day or from the time we end a prayer with “amen”, we should be as excited and happy as Bj is to do it again. We should keep our focus on chasing God the way Bj chases after his ball. God should be the first thing on our minds and spending time with him should be all we want to do.

Bj is happy, safe, and content when he has his ball and I know I’m the same way when I’m in the presence of the Lord. Just as a little beagle howls with happiness, sing praises to the Father! Ask yourself how excited do you get when you finally get to spend time with God?