I am reading The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg as a devotional reading during my quiet time. It has been such a blessing and a perfect addition to my Bible reading.

I was struck by the chapter on The Discipline of Celebration. How often do we go through each day, struggling to get things done, hurrying to complete the next task on the list, going through the motions of life? Too often, if you are like me.

God calls us to be like Him and He is a God of joy. He is a Rejoicer. He is a Happy Dancer! And I bet He can bust a move, don’t you think?

It’s hard to find the joy sometimes in seasons of trial and pain, but we can become joyful people. “True joy…comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness.” It is in His strength that we learn how to be joyful. We can discipline ourselves and learn to see the joy.

A few weeks ago, there were certain things that really drained all joy out of me. It was affecting my attitude. It was even affecting my writing! How could I write romantic, loving scenes when I was so sad, so mad, and so frustrated?

It was around that time I quit getting on the computer in the mornings before work and devoted more time with God. (Now don’t think you have to do this, because it was what God was calling me to do to get my attention.) It was then I began reading this book. And it was then I started to learn how to do the steps of the Happy Dance.

Now I try to have a Happy Dance Day every day. Why don’t you give it a try? For those of you who write, it just might make your writing sing! Or maybe to even dance!