“But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3, ESV) All fairy tales seem to end with that wonderful line, “And they lived happily ever after.” As a child, we could read that line and then contentedly close our storybook,…
“That my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). Everyone wants to be happy, but each of us defines happiness differently. Some base their happiness level on what they possess. Happiness is a new pair of shoes, a sporty car, the latest electronics,…
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice…
“I thought to myself, ‘Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.’ But I found that it also is futile” (Ecclesiastes 2:1, New English Translation). Many people live with the belief that “things” make us happy. The more things we possess, the happier we become.…
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” (Proverbs 15:13 from the King James Version of the Holy Bible) Have you ever been in an incurable bad mood? Next time this happens, even if you are alone, put on the biggest…
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible) This morning as I read this scripture I asked myself, “What does contentment really look like?” I know…
-
Luke 6:20-23 from the Amplified Bible, “Jesus said, ‘Blessed (happy with life-joy and…God’s favor) are you who hunger…for you shall be filled…Blessed (happy with life-joy and God’s favor) are you who weep and sob…for you shall laugh…'”
-
Are you poor? Jesus said He’ll give you His kingdom. Are you hungry? Jesus said He’ll feed you. Are you sad? Jesus said he’d make you happy. Whatever your problem, Jesus will help you. Do you know Jesus? He knows you. Have you forgotten Him? He’ll never forget you. He’s waiting for you to call out to Him. It’s easy. Just say “Jesus”.
-
Prayer: Jesus, I want to know You. Jesus, I love You. Jesus, I need _________ right now. Please provide for me in a way that I will know for certain it came from You! I believe You will. Thank-you Jesus, You are the best!
-
Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff
-
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul” Psalm 94:19 (New International Version of the Holy Bible). We can live joyful every day because our happiness is not based on circumstances, but rather it is predicated on God Himself. Joy dwells with God which means wherever God is there is joy! If we make room for Him in our lives, we can experience a deep and abiding joy regardless of external conditions. The joy of the Lord knew the poverty of a lowly manger birth and the agony of the cross. Joy triumphed over the grave – it is irrefutable and undefeatable! This joy does not deny the distress or minimize the pain in our life, but finds God in the midst of it.
-
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for joy that transcends my present circumstance. I pause today to rejoice in the God of my salvation. Though I may face sorrow, or urgent needs, or anxiety, or illness, I face it with my soul secure in You. Amen.
-
Devotion by: Julie Long