Joy

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Bible commands us to “Be joyful always,” but it takes strength to hold onto joy when life threatens to snatch it from our hands. How do we recognize a threat to our joy, employ a strategy to refute it, and come out stronger on the other side of it …still gripping our God-given joy? We must remain faithful in spite of the situations and circumstances that come to steal our joy. We must continue to remember that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 and because we know this we can walk in the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Today, we pray for Joy.

Father, in the name of Jesus, as always before we ask You for anything God we stay THANK YOU for everything, Thank You for waking us up this morning, Thank You for clothing us in our right minds and Thank You for another opportunity to lift up Your name and to give You Praise. Lord, You are the Joy of our lives. Lord, we ask today that You strengthen us to set aside the cares of life that have come to steal our joy. Father, You command us to be joyful always, but You do not expect us to be able to figure out how to attain or retain that joy ourselves. Joy is a choice. It’s not something we can just drum up on our own, or try to put on a fake, happy face, pretending everything is OK when we struggle to just get through. It’s far more than that. It’s authentic. It’s real. And it’s powerful. The Bible is clear that we need to “choose” to have joy during seasons of difficulty. Today we choose Joy. Remind us that the “joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) You gave Your Son Jesus to light the way to a joy-filled life. Through His earthly footsteps, we study the example He left for us to follow. All creation reminds us of You. Thank You, Lord, for the daily reminders of Your Grace, Your Mercy, Your Love, and Your Joy. Thank You for the love of family and friends. Allow your Sonshine to shine through us that others may see the joy of Your Love through our lives. May the Holy Spirit help us to understand Your Word, and will for our lives. Bless our hearts with sustaining joy, and the strength to hold onto it no matter what. Today we choose Joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.