fear based joy...

The power of joy I witnessed... came as a response to prayer...

Prayer for joy... and respect for others... a binding up of greed... and pride...

A prayer for a right focus on Him...

And you see... as I prayed... my heart changed too...

The anxiety of watching a son compete... was not present... there was a calm... no real disappointment... with each point lost... or the exuberant pride... at a point won...

There was joy... for me too... no matter the score...

And what I recognized today... found in the treadmill read... the joy experienced... was based on fear... fear-of-the-Lord...

..."fear-of-the-Lord." It is the stock biblical phrase for the way of life that is lived responsively and appropriately before who God is, who he is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

--- Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

A right attitude to His Sovereignty... even on a court... a right attitude toward an opponent... made in His image... one to be respected...

A right attitude toward the potential for spiritual warfare... and His place in overcoming it...

Fear based joy... born of a desire to obey... and glorify Him...

The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever.

Psalm 19:8-9