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Jesus Others Yourself Day 1
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27
What a clever little acronym. It really is a perfect combination for joy. If we will be mindful to put Jesus and others before ourselves, we will truly experience the joy of the Lord. We are to love the Lord with all of our heart, mind and soul and our neighbor as ourselves. It has been my personal experience that when I spend time with God and focus more on those that are around me, then my problems shrink and my ego deflates. You know you can really lose your joy behind a big ego. Your pride and insecurities can shadow any peace of mind that you hoped to find. I also know that joy can’t be found when selfishness consumes us. The lowest points of my life have been when all I could see was me.
Be encouraged, get your eyes off of yourself and all of your issues and invest your precious time into a closer walk with Jesus and those around you that may need a friend.
Jeannie Sinclair
Day 2 Double Your Joy
“We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!”
1 John 1:3-4
John tells us quite simply here how to double our joy in the Lord – Share it. Share with others what God has done for you. Share the relationship you have with God. If God has done something in your life and has given you a joy and a peace – share it and see how much more you receive.
Kathy Galloway
Honesty Is The Best Policy Day 3
“And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.”
Genesis 31:26-28
Even though Laban was giving Jacob a run for his money, I believe he would have come out better if he would have been up front and honest with Laban. We often think that we can get around a truth or a difficult situation by avoiding it. If we are not open and honest it will bring confusion and trouble. It is an open door for the enemy to come in. But if we stand firm in honesty and truth we are open to receive joy and blessings from the Lord. In other words things will turn out for our good, we will count it as joy. God promises us if we do our part He will do His!
Day 4 Joy Comes in the Morning
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
David praised God for delivering him from all his troubles and pain. He encourages us in this psalm to hold on and hold out, because although you’re weeping right now, joy will come in the morning. If we want to better understand weeping nights and joyful mornings, we must first know what our source is. When we come to understand what our source is, we’ll know what to pray for and what our direction is when God shows us the way. We also need to know what it means to endure for a night. Knowing that the night is temporary gives hope and encouragement to hold on. And lastly, we need to know what determines the morning. The morning is not always the ideal situation we think it should be, but the morning is determined by the arrival of joy.
Chris AltazanShake It Up Day 5
“Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.”
1 Kings 1:40
When Solomon was anointed King over Israel there was so much joy that the earth shook.It was said that there was no man wiser than Solomon.Yet in Ecclesiastes he writes “all is vanity” again and again.As the wisest of kings Solomon could not find peace or joy.Jesus is the Prince of Peace.He is our king.So how much more should we be joyful that He reigns as king?I sayit’s time for you and I to have and show so much joy that the very earth trembles beneath us.For Jesus is a far greater king than Solomon!
Pastor David D. Hayes
Day 6 Prodigal Son
“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Luke 15:32
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him, he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. All through the years while his son was gone, the father never stopped watching the road for his son to return home.
I have been in this state of mind. My family has continuously watched the road ahead for our family member to come to his senses and return home. But I know, just as this father had JOY when he saw his son return home, our Heavenly Father has overwhelming JOY when we repent and call out to Him. If you are praying for someone, I want to be in agreement with you for their return home.
Lord, I thank You for Your promises. I thank You that all the angels in Heaven rejoice when our family and friends come back to you. Open their eyes today Father. Amen.
Donna Rodgers
Reap a Harvest of Joy Day 7
“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2
What is it that you are looking at? Is it your circumstances? Maybe it’s uncertainty? Many times we get distracted by the things around us and forget the vision that our heavenly Father has ordained for us to press toward. The assignment that God has given is the vehicle to bring joy, in spite of present situation and many afflictions. There is something far greater than the things I am now experiencing. Our Lord and Savior is God in the flesh. He went through things we will never be able to fathom. However, when we look at the fruits of being submitted to God we see an enormous harvest of joy. Why? Because He counted it all joy. When you are not moved by the things around you, the vision that God has placed before you will bring a basketful of joy. What is the thing that God has placed into your heart? What are things that bring you joy that the Lord has asked you to do? Look at those things and reap a harvest of joy.
Darrain Matthews
Day 8 Rejoicing Angels
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Luke 15:7
Imagine the never-ending celebrating in heaven every time you see people go to the altar to receive salvation.Let us pray fordemonstratesame excitement that Jesus speaks about.I have learned that we can ask God to give us a greater passion andburning desire for lost souls to be saved.I am praying and seeking this on a daily basis.Jesus came to save that which was lost.We should get on the same agenda that Jesus has – go into all the world and preach the gospel., I also must doabout it and applyto become a doer of this prayer.
Paul said we should see allin the spirit now and not in the flesh.Everyone we encounter is a soul eitheror lost.Salvation should not be selfish.We should want to take as many people with us as we can to heaven.I want to hear those angels rejoicing.
Linda Stradley Williams
A New Sense of Joy! Day 9
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30
Sometimes we, as Christians, can find ourselves running on empty. The demands of daily life can drain us of our strength and rob us of the joy that is rightly ours in Christ. Are you tired or troubled? Turn your heart toward God in prayer. Are you weak or worried? Take the time or make the time to look deeply into God’s Holy Word. Are you spiritually drained? Call upon fellow believers to support you and call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. When you do, you’ll discover that the Creator of the universe stands always ready and always able to create a new sense of wonderment and joy in you.
Marta Garcia
Day 10 God’s Blessings
“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
Proverbs 10:22
It is a great comfort to me to know that God loves me so much that He wants to bless me with riches. God knows how to bless us with more than money. The riches God has for us are family, friends and loved ones. He also blesses us with the desires of our heart. When you have the desires of your heart, you know that money is not necessarily what makes us rich. Happiness and peace of mind are far better.
The second part, “and He adds no sorrow with it,” actually multiplies the first part. Not only is there peace and happiness, but also the fact that He will add no sorrows or troubles that would take away the joy of His blessings.
Al Hart
Choose to Rejoice Day 11
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:18
Satan is always trying to steal our joy. The Word says he comes to steal, kill and destroy but praise God, in Christ Jesus we have the victory. We can walk in love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost but we must choose to do so.
Determine in your heart daily to follow Jesus and keep your eyes on Him. Determine that no matter what you are going through, you are going to rejoice. After all, if you’ve made Jesus Lord and Savior of your life your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and that, brothers and sisters, is something to rejoice about!
Marion Sturdivant
Day 12 River of Joy
”Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2-3
A well in the natural is a pipe that has been tapped into an underground stream or river.Like a well, we tap into that deep river of God’s love He puts in each of His children .A well in the natural can get clogged up with sticks, dirt, rocks, etc. We can allow hurt, bitterness or strife to block the flow of God’s love in us, on us and through us.
God is our river.First we have to trust God to take care of all our problems, then without fear we are able to love others because without all of the hurts clogging up our well we are able to let God’s love flow through us, which automatically produces joy in our lives because it is His love flowing through us that produces joy, The Bible tells us it is better to give than to receive.It is in the giving that the joy is created in us.
Pastor Danny Rogillio
Walking Through Cancer Day 13
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
“Seven weeks of radiation,” said the oncology doctor. What I thought to be a small blister turned out to be a deadly cancer that had spread in my jaw. Cancer was inside the cheek, a rare place that you just don’t hear about anymore. All my friends and family prayed for a miracle. I will admit I didn’t want to go through this. The first week of my treatment I began to sense a peace and purpose as I came in touch with so many suffering people. I found out my doctor was lost. I saw a ministry and an opportunity. I knew I was in God’s will. I began to understand that I was chosen to walk through this path and as crazy as it sounds I began to feel pure joy to think that God trusted me enough and knew that I would glorify His Son through this testing.
Walking in God’s strength allows us to keep our joy as we learn to endure and mature. Praise the Lord, I’ve been cancer-free for over three years.
Sue Yglesias Neames
Day 14 Make a Joyful Noise!
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.”
Psalm 100:1
The Lord doesn’t just want you to make a joyful noise with your lips, in praise and worship, but with your actions as well. Do something crazy for the Lord; lead someone to Jesus, give someone a Bible and help someone who’s struggling. Have you ever heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words?” Put that into perspective and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
“Lord, help me do something for You today no matter if it’s leading someone to Jesus or helping someone in need, just give me the opportunity to fulfill Your will and I will do whatever You ask of me. Amen.”
Jordyn O’Neal (age 13)
Win-win Possessions Day 15
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”
Proverbs 16:16
When we look at the world around us, we see a mad rat-race of competition for the possession of something. That something can be fame, glory, something that someone else has or some sort of material possession. That type of rat-race doesn’t leave room for any win-win outcomes. Someone usually comes out with the short end of the stick.
On the other hand when we seek the wisdom of God in our lives, our heavenly Father will give it to us in abundance. That wisdom is a precious treasure that can and will carry us throughout our lives and become a wonderful gift that we can impart into the lives of others.
There is a great joy that will carry us through our journey in life when we accept and use this wonderful treasure for the enrichment of the world around us. It’s truly a win-win possession.
Pastor Ashanti Witherspoon
Day 16 A Christian’s Joy
“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God,-he and his whole family.”
Acts 16:34
I see this type of joy given out all the time at MPC. It never ceases to touch my heart to see this joy come on a brother or sister. I observe a new person come to church and they have grief written all over them. Sooner or later, little by little they change. Next thing you know they are practically glowing with joy.
Father, I ask in the name of Jesus, that NO ONE can pass through the doors of MPC and leave the same. I pray that ALL will leave with Your joy in their heart. AMEN.
Trey Hereford
God’s Joyful Abundance Day 17
“O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.”
1 Chronicles 29:16-18
I love these verses because it reminds me that it is all worth it! Everything I do for the Lord is worth it. When I see someone in our church for the first time, and they are lifting holy hands and praising Him, everything suddenly comes to a halt. It seems like time is standing still and my heart overflows with JOY, unspeakable JOY! I give God glory for allowing me to have a part in this abundance. I praise Him for the lives that will be touched and the souls that will be saved. How humbling it is to realize that I have been given the opportunity to be a part in this. Thank you Jesus!
Kathy Rogillio
Day 18 Keep Focused
“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”
John 16:21
The birth of my first child was a horrific experience. I suffered intense pain and, in the end, I had to have a C-section. During labor, I vowed that I would never have another child. A few hours later, when the nurse brought me the most beautiful baby in the world, I was ready to have a dozen more.
As human beings, we all go through trials. It’s not much fun and, during the test, we wonder if it’s worth it. Then God does something amazing in our lives and we are reminded of what a joy it is to serve Him. Keep focused on the end result (an eternity with Christ) and you will always have joy in your life.
Marion Horta
Fruit of Joy Day 19
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…”
Galatians 5:22-23
When the Bible declares that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, then I must acknowledge that fruit comes as a result of growth. In another passage it states that the “joy of the Lord is our strength.” While you may find it difficult to keep your joy sometimes, I want to encourage you that with all things concerning the Lord, this is a growth process. In order to produce the fruit of joy, the seed must first be planted, then watered and finally God will cause the increase. In order to test your joy, a little opposition will enter your life. As frustrating as this is, your circumstances will teach you that joy is not something that is contingent on your situation but rather it is found in your maturity level. You know you are becoming a spiritual grown-up when your life is shaken but you still maintain your level of joy. God is good!
Jeannie Sinclair
Day 20 Are You Ready to Rumble?
“But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.”
Jeremiah 20:11
Are you in a crisis situation, where it is dark on every side? Read this passage again. No matter what is being thrown at you, seek Him and lean not on your own knowledge. Imagine an advancing army…how can you possibly fail? The great Warrior is on your side. His name is Jesus and He will never let you fail. Be joyful for the battles because the victory is already yours.
Pastor Tim Pierce
Cartwheels of Joy Day 21
“Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain!”
Habakkuk 3:17-19
We cannot allow the circumstances we find ourselves in to dictate our state of mind. We cannot allow the fact that we are going through trials to bring us down. Some days it is hard but we need to remember that we are children of God. How often do you see children being kept down by their circumstances? How often do you see a child worrying about tomorrow? Be like a child by refusing to fall down under the pressure, but by knowing that God will provide; and continue turning cartwheels of joy to our Savior God.
Kathy Galloway
Day 22 Treasures of God
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44
Imagine finding a treasure so precious and valuable that you are willing to sell all that you have to obtain it.You spare no expense in gaining this treasure because it is the source of great joy!That is what we have in Jesus.We have a treasure that is worth all that we have; all that we could ever achieve or obtain.He is that treasure.I find joy in knowing that I am His treasure according to the Word of God.He joyfully gave all that He had to reach me.So I will joyfully give all that I have to receive all that He has given for me.
Pastor David D. Hayes
Trials and Temptations Day 23
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds; we have to keep the joy in our hearts.”
James 1:2
The devil comes to steal our joy and to try to depress us with our life. We have to learn to confront the devil with a joyful spirit. Let him know that this joy that we have he will not take it away from us. Our walk with Christ can never be strengthened until we learn to walk through those valleys with Him, hand in hand. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Pastor Charles Byrd
Day 24 True Joy
“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Our joy, prayers and thankfulness to God should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. God is the source of joy, not people, circumstances, things or careers. True joy can only come from the one true God. No one likes trials, yet no one can escape them. We can let them ruin our lives – making us bitter, angry and resentful – or we can look for the treasure that will allow us to love and serve others. By allowing trials to draw us to God, our batteries will not only be charged but will be on the brink of overflow. This overflow will allow us to love others during our trials giving us an abundance of joy. When we do God’s will, we will find it easier to be joyful because it’s a joy that surpasses all understanding. So in all things be joyful because this is the will of your Father.
Brandy Baudoin
Surrounded by Joy Day 25
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:3-6
Joy comes from a thankful heart being confident in God’s provision. The first key to becoming a Joy-FULL person is to be thankful for what God has accomplished, and be confident in God’s ability to accomplish His work. Many times I am not pleased with the outcome of what I put my hands to, or possibly what others fail to accomplish.It’s at these times I am challenged to keep my joy or let it dwindle away.Like verse 5, when I think about the wonderful people that God has placed around me, I am filled with joy because I see all the smiles, tears, breakthrough, deliverances and passion that we all encounter as a direct result of partnering in the Gospel.Oh, what joy to know that God is not finished just yet!If we see evidence that God has started a work in us,rest assured and hold fast to the joy of your salvation that He will complete what He has put His hands to.
Pastor Damon Baudoin
Day 26 Declare the Works of the Lord
“Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!”
Psalm 126:2-3
These guys were really joyful. They had seen the deliverance of the Lord. They were still so in awe that it seemed unreal. When they talked among the nations of the great things that the Lord had done for them they were filled with joy. Don’t hesitate to tell others what God has done for you. You will be filled with joy and glorify God and bring someone with you. David sure liked to declare the works of the Lord. Just a few: Psalms 73:28; 78:4; 90:16; 92:4; 107:8,15; 111:2,4,7; 143:5. There are many more.
“Lord, give me the boldness to always proclaim Your goodness and wondrous works to the children of men. Amen.”
Patti Rodgers
Go Ahead, Laugh! Day 27
“…the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
When we become more like Jesus and desire God so intently that we’re willing to cast aside our desire to please men and praise Him without reservation, we’ll truly see the glory of God. Why? Because God manifests Himself where He’s wanted. He shows up where hearts are hungry. He’s not going to reveal Himself to a great degree among people whose hearts are only partially turned toward Him.
Consequently, He’s finding people who want Him more than anything else this life has to offer. God is pouring out a spirit of joy so strong it causes people to laugh for hours. Some people end up on the floor, doubled over laughing with the joy of the Lord. Some religious folk doubt that this is a move of God, but the Bible says we get strength by rejoicing because “the joy of the LORD is our strength!”
Shirley Tullier
Day 28 Sing Your Way to Joy
“Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy; his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out! He made them a gift of the country they entered, helped them seize the wealth of the nations so they could do everything he told them—could follow his instructions to the letter. Hallelujah!”
Psalm 105:43-45
Are you coming out of a major battle and feeling totally wiped out? Are you feeling like you can’t go any further? Begin praising God. We have all had times where we were tired and it would have been easier to go home and rest (by reclining back and watching TV) than to come back to church. At times like that, I make myself come back to church and find that through praise and worship, God will lift me up physically and spiritually and usually has a specific message for me. If I had gone home and not come back, I would have missed receiving a gift from God.
Kathy Galloway
Joy Day 29
“For our heart shall rejoice in, because we havein his Holy Name.”
33:21
Joy for me means Jesus on you (Holy Ghost). When I am not feeling well, I ask God to help me.tells me, “Maria, sing praises toand glorify my Name.” I tell myself that I am more than a conqueror throughJesus. The Lord is my Shepherd. Delight thyself also in the Lord.
The Lord will never leave us or forsake us.is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. This is awesomeJesusus so much. So when you are down and out, just praise Him and everything will be alright.Praise the Lord!
Maria Schexsnayder
Day 30 The Hills Are Alive
“ For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
I don’t know about you but when I read this I see Julie Andrews spinning around on top of that mountain. Thank God for days like this when we are so aware of His majesty and wonder. Our world is so incredible! I love to watch nature shows and marvel at the beauty of His creation. I believe if we just take the time to notice what He has done for us, we can’t help but have joy, acknowledge that He is God and recognize just how wonderful He is. Don’t let the devil trick you into focusing on what you don’t have. Look around and know that God has given us abundant life! Start out your day reading the Bible and meditating on His goodness and you will go out with joy!
Kathy Rogillio
Wake Up, It’s Morning Time Day 31
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5
You may often wonder why we experience sad times in our lives. No matter who you are, sadness will come. Life’s trials will test our inner strength to determine where the breaking barriers begin and how long they remain. If you have ever noticed, pain comes and goes. We decide how long it stays by how we treat it. Joy is not happiness. Happiness has its own terms, it doesn’t have to cooperate if it doesn’t feel like it. However, joy is from the Lord and has authority over happiness (that is of the world) and the constant supernatural power to show through your emotions no matter what is going on in the world at any given time. This “Revelation” only happens when you come into the knowledge of it (supernaturally) through the Word of God… That’s when you wake up (in the morning).
So take your sword, your shield, the Word of God and set your Holy Ghost alarm clock to ring the precious favor of life because God’s ready for us to “Wake Up… It’s Morning Time”.
Ercel Placide
Day 32 What Brings God Joy?
“I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”
“They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
2 Samuel 22:4,19-20
In this passage, David SANG to the Lord the words of this songthe Lord delivered Him from the hand of his enemies. The Lord was faithful in showing His face to David, and David knew what pleased God.David waswarrior of praise and worship…and that delighted God.How fulfilling it is to know that, in all of our unworthiness,can bring joy to the creator of Heaven and Earth.In His joy and delight over us, He battles our enemies.We know, on even the smallest measure of faith, when God speaks to our enemies, they are defeated!
So…bring joy to the Father through praise and worship.Burn a new fire for Him everyday that He may take pleasure in the fellowship you offer Him.joy you bring to the Father will come back to you like you never imagined!
Lori Hartley
Paybacks Day 33
Psalms 37 & 73
You know who doesn’t have joy? Good people who are envious of those who are in sin but still appear to be blessed. It’s particularly difficult to handle when the “blessed” person happens to be one that has really done you wrong. I’d be lying if I said it was easy to give God glory when you feel like you’re dying inside. Remember, we all reap what we sow. If payback doesn’t happen here, then one day they will face God and experience a much worse punishment than you could have ever given. If you will move through the emotion, give God glory, release and pray for them, then you will see the manifestation of blessing in your own life.
The biggest thing you will see is the return of your joy. Boy, wouldn’t that burn that person up to see you full of life and JOY! God has a way, but you must flow in accordance with His word and He says that all vengeance is to be His. Let God do His job. You ensure that you don’t let someone else’s sin rob you of your joy – it is God’s present to you.
Jeannie Sinclair
Day 34 Permanent Joy
“So with you:Now is your time of grief but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:22
Have you ever noticed how all throughout the Bible God is continuously turning grief into joy? Earlier in verse 20, Jesus told His disciples they will weep because of what is about to happen (the crucifixion). My notes say the Greek word for weeping that is used here means deep sorrow.
However, Jesus says there will be joy when they see Him again and tells them NO ONE can take that joy away. Stand on this FACT when the world is trying to steal your joy.
Trey Hereford
Dominion Brings Joy Day 35
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”
Genesis 1:26-28
Now you may be asking yourself, “What does this scripture have to do with joy?”Let’s focus on the second half of verse 28: “… fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion.”God Himself gave us dominion over everything in the earth. Everything!The joy is in knowing that He has not changed His mind. He still wants you to have dominion in the earth.You just have to take it!
Pastor David D. Hayes
Day 36 Humble Joy
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:1-4
This is one of my favorite passages because it is so full of the simplest instructions. If we can only focus on three simple goals: that we love others more than ourselves, extend more mercy than we deserve, and live our lives in devotion to Christ, then we will live verse 4 simply because our interests is in others rather than ourselves.
Pastor Tim Pierce
Sacrifices of Joy Day 37
“And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.”
Psalm 27:6
Even as David was surrounded by his enemies, he said I will offer sacrifices of joy. I will sing praises unto Jehovah. In this scripture it seems that David’s flesh was not in agreement to what David knew he had to do in order rise above the circumstances that encircled him. David knew to take hold of the joy of the Lord. (Nehemiah 8:10)
The international Bible encyclopedia describes the word joy as gladness, mirth, to be bright, to shine. (Proverbs 13:9) “The light of the righteous rejoice”, literally is bright.
Why is joy so powerful? Because when light prevails darkness recedes. As I look at other Christians in my life, I’m encouraged by those who seem unshakeable to the circumstances that the enemy may have placed around them. They continue to move forward walking in victory. I can see the light of the joy of the Lord in their life.
Pastor John Mayers
Day 38 Joy in the Midst of Pain
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy!”
Psalm 126:5
Joy and pain, how can this be?They are twoopposites. There is a song “Joy Cometh in the Morning.”We don’t have to wait until morning. Joy comes from our Heavenly Father.Pain comes from our flesh.Jesus paid the debt and took our pain upon Himself so we can walk free. As we place our situations in His very capable hands, Jesus will provide us love, joy and peace.We receive them by keeping our eyes on Jesus and not the circumstances.Circumstances don’t always change quickly, but His joyremain. Praise Him! He is worthy!
Beverly Oulman
Learn from Habakkuk Day 39
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no foods though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Talk about a man of faith! Habakkuk refused to let circumstances bring him down because his feelings were not controlled by events around him but God’s abilities to give him strength through all of this.
That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave my children, my grandchildren, great grandchildren and my many friends who have watched my walk through the years with Christ. That regardless of what happens in my life: good or bad, loss or grief, I should be able to be joyful just because God is my Savior and the joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). He has proven to me through the years that He can, He has and He will always turn my sorrow into joy.
Sue Yglesias Neames
Day 40 We’re Looking Better
“His flesh shall be young like a child’s, he shall return to the days of his youth. He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness.”
Job 33:25-30
I see it all of the time, people who truly serve God look better than they have in years. And those who are serving the devil look like…well, the devil. When I was deep in sin, I really hated myself. In fact it took me awhile after I was saved to get past that. I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror. At the time I didn’t realize it, but it was the sin I saw in me that I hated. As I grow older there are things I still don’t like seeing in the mirror, but it is for a different reason. Thankfully now, because He has restored my righteousness through Jesus, I have joy in who I am in Him. I now know that my heavenly Father loves me and He sees my face with joy. That certainly helps me love myself.
Kathy Rogillio
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength Day 41
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Some years after the children of Israel were released from Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem. Ezra had led a spiritual revival. Now, Nehemiah comes on the scene and challenges the people to show their faith by their works, in the rebuilding of the wall. The wall was completed, the Law was read and God gave them understanding.
There were mixed emotions that brought a firm decision for renewal, joy and weeping. They had sorrow from sin and backsliding; and joy at God’s provision to know and understand the truth. In essence Nehemiah is telling them to shake off the past and move forward, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
There are times when we need to remind ourselves, ‘Take joy Oh my soul.’ When we think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for us, we too can take joy, shake off the past, move forward and walk in His strength.
Judy Rogillio
Day 42 Joy in the Face of Danger
“Mordecai left the king’s presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.”
Esther 8:15
The definition of the word ’joy’ is great happiness or a feeling of pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind. I find this to be true of the story of Esther. I love this story because it shows the courage and faith it took for the Jews to go through hardship. How much harder can it get than the extermination of the Jewish race? But, what the devil intended for evil, God, our God, my God will turn it around for our good every time. Haman built the gallows for Mordecai, but later in the story, the gallows was used on Haman. I love the way these people stood in the face of danger and believed God’s promise. The eye could only see evil, but the spiritual only saw victory by the blood of the Lamb. Thus a joyous celebration began.
Lord, help us to stay joyous in times of trials and hardship, knowing we have the victory. Amen
Donna Rodgers
Joy in Exchange Day 43
“To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3
Have you ever mourned for your childhood that you lost through abuse or drugs or a parent that you missed knowing? Even when we are not aware of the mourning inside of us it can be damaging to our hearts. Jesus came not only to give us eternal life but to heal our broken hearts. He wants us to be healed and truly give our mourning to Him. When He takes it away, He will give us the oil of joy, in exchange. Then we can grow into the oaks of righteousness that He can be glorified. I can tell you first hand of the joy of the Lord. It is a supernatural spring of living water springing up from inside. I like to talk about the Lord and let the joy come up and bubble out. I know that when I please the Lord, He gives me joy for strength. His joy truly is my strength.
Patti Rodgers
Day 44 The Shepherd’s Joy
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:8-12,15
The shepherds received news about the gift that still goes on. Because of what they did with this gift, we too can sing joy to the world! I find it very interesting that God chose to send the birth announcement about His Son to shepherds. The scripture doesn’t tell us much about who they were – “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby.” You too can bring the same news of the gift of life to your city.
Chris Altazan
Day 46 The Wisdom of Silence
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”
Proverbs 13:3
There is great wisdom that is learned from developing discipline in what we say. Offense is a deadly demon that has reached into the hearts of many, destroying the stability of families, friendships, businesses, organizations and ministries. I have often heard people state that they had to say something in response to a negative statement hurled at them from someone else. Usually, they state the good feeling that they received from “giving that person a piece of their mind.” The result has often been two hurting people with the knife of offense stuck deeply within each other’s hearts.
Through the disciplining of controlling what we say to others, we can gain great joy and peace within our lives. We will find that our relationships with others has an affect that will bring smiles to the faces of people we meet and that will allow us to carry joy within our hearts every day of our lives.
Pastor Ashanti Witherspoon
Paul’s Joy Day 47
2 Corinthians Chapter 7
For your devotion today please turn to this chapter and read the whole chapter. Seems the church at Corinth had gotten slightly off track. Paul, being the bold man of God that he was, had to send them a letter that sort of stepped on some toes. In reading verse 10, it appears Paul got the desired results. It brought the RIGHT kind of sorrow, godly sorrow; which in turn, because of the repentance, brought joy to God, to Paul and although it doesn’t state it, I assume joy to the members of the Church, as I am sure they felt in their spirit the joy in God’s Spirit. The point is, that when we truly repent and truly regret the sins we have committed, it greatly pleases our Father and brings us joy for having pleased Him. Search yourself today and truly repent and turn from wrong ways and then savor the joy that comes in your spirit afterwards
Trey Hereford
Day 48 Got Joy?
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:10-11
Joy is a deep and abiding inner rejoicing which is promised to those who abide in Christ and obey His commandments.Joy is the byproduct of obedience. When you’re in total obedience to God, you line yourself up with the blessings of God. I DON’T HAVE TO LOSE MY JOY BECAUSE OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES.To experience His abundant, overflowing joy involves a choice. It is a habit of the mind which finds its source in the Spirit of God.Many people are guilty of making the statement that they cannot have joy because of the level of stress in their life.God revealed to me that stress is a choice and not a condition. According to Galatians 5:22, one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. So, no matter the severity of our circumstances, if we stay filled with the Spirit of Christ, joy is always at hand.
Pastor Damon Baudoin
It’s a Family Thing Day 49
“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.”
3 John 1:4
There are many things in life that bring me joy but when I see my children doing something for the Lord, I am amazed at the goodness of God. As a child, I did not go to church and was never told about Jesus. I was not saved until I was almost forty years old. I am overwhelmed when I think of what could have happened to me if I had never come to know Jesus. Fortunately God has a plan and now my whole family is saved and serving the Lord!
Learn about the Bible together with your children and encourage them to get involved with the church. It will be a joy to you and your child, as well as many others.
Marion Horta
Day 50 The Labor Pains of Joy
“When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.”
John 16:21-23
Jesus was telling us that we will all go through “labor pains” but we must continue and not quit. To continue will ultimately bring the greatest reward – a joy that cannot ever be taken. We must hang in there and push through the pain to receive our reward of joy so great we can not even imagine.
Kathy Galloway
Sharing Joy Day 51
“Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always.”
1 Chronicles 16:10-11
God wants His joy to be our joy. Since we are His children He wants us to share His love, His joy and His peace. Yet sometimes through the hustle and bustle of life, we don’t feel like sharing. So we forfeit – albeit temporarily – God’s joy as we wrestle with the challenges of everyday life. If today, your heart is heavy, open the door of your soul to your Heavenly Father. When you do, He will renew your spirit. And if you already have the joy of Christ in your heart, share it freely. When you discover ways to make your joy their joy, you will discover a wonderful way to say “I love you” to your family, your friends and most especially, to your God.
Marta Garcia
Day 52 Another Look
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13
The Lord created all things beautiful. What joy it must have given Him., joy and peace, these are attributes of our Savior.We read in John 2:1-11 about the miracle Jesus performed at a wedding.At weddings we find fellowship, laughter, good will, excitement and joy. Jesus was and is full of joy. A child is full of joy; a child learns responsibility but doesn’t carry the burdens of life, that’s the father’s job. Matthew18:3 says, “Except ye be converted and come as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”Watch a little child, there is JOY when they know all is well in their world.It can be well with us also. We have a heavenly father. Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord! Receive His fullness of joy.
“For you are our glory and joy!” 1 Thessalonians 2:20
Beverly Oulman
Shout It Loud! Day 53
“With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: ‘He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!’ Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.”
Ezra 3:11
Nothing is greater than the shout…in adversity, shout; in pain, shout; even in intense warfare. The shout is actually used by warriors to strike fear and apprehension in their opponents. Our enemy, the devil, is always threatening, pushing and causing strife and division. Remember, His love has conquered all and it will last forever. When trials are upon you, shout for joy because when your foundations are laid in Him, you truly have something to shout about!
Pastor Tim Pierce
Day 54 A Serving of Joy
“And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.”
1 Chronicles 15:15-16
Just as David appointed the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to lift up their voice with joy, we have been appointed by God to do the same. There is something about praising the name or the person of Jesus, whether it is with musical instruments, our voices singing on high exalting His name or giving a cup of water in His name. All these express our love and appreciation for the One Who redeemed us, Jesus! As leaders we are reasonable to appoint our brethren, to be ushers, greeters, worshipers, intercessors, to outreach teams, etc. This will bring us joy. It is in the service of the Lord that we are empowered to have joy.
Pastor Danny Rogillio
Sow in Tears…Reap in Joy Day 55
“They who sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
Psalm 126:5
When the Lord brought back the captives who returned to Zion, they were like those who dream; it seemed so unreal. In this psalm three metaphors are used to express their overwhelming joy of coming home; a pleasant dream, the refreshing water of streams in a desert, and harvest time festivities. Their mouths were filled with laughter, and their tongues with singing. They said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for us.” In sowing tears of repentance they reaped the joy of deliverance. Once again God had come to their rescue.
As Christians, may we never lose sight of the deliverance that we have experienced in Christ, being always overwhelmed with joy, drinking from the refreshing water of streams in our desert times and participating in harvest time festivities. May our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with singing. May we say to the nations, “The Lord has done great things for us and He will do great things for you, if you only believe.”
Judy Rogillio
Day 56 Bucket of Joy
“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:3
Have you ever been to a real well? I’m sure you’ve at least seen a picture of one.Imagine being so extremely thirsty that your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth.It makes you want to smack your lips and swallow really hard. In the distance you see a well.You make your way through the heat to the well only to discover there is a rope, but no bucket.What a letdown!All of that water down in the bottom of that well does you no good if you can’t bring it up to drink.Joy in this scripture is that bucket.The goodness of your salvation is for now.And it will lie dormant if you don’t have joy.The devil wants to steal it from you.He knows that you will become thirsty and need to drink from that well of salvation.But if he can get and keep your joy, you won’t have any way to bring up the “goodness” that is in the well.So don’t let the devil, or the world, or anything get your joy…cause you’re gonna need it.
Pastor David D. Hayes
Sing for Joy! Day 57
“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.”
Psalm 27:6
There is an old song that says, “If you want joy you can sing for it.” I have to admit this is tough for me to do. When I get down, I am down and I really don’t want to sing! I do realize that when I praise God in the midst of my trouble it is a sacrifice that is pleasing and acceptable. When I rise above my circumstances and sing to the Lord, I am letting Him know that I trust Him. There is power in trusting Him, and I know through my faith in Him I will have victory! I really know that the Lord is able and that everything will be OK. I just need to learn to cast down the false thoughts and SING for JOY! Father help me to sing and offer sacrifices of joy when I am down, for you are so worthy of my praise!
Kathy Rogillio
Day 58 Happiness Isn’t Joy
“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:20, 22
As a Christian, I was on the path a few years before I learned the difference between happiness and joy. I thought the two were the same. To me it was having a husband who sent me roses, owning new cars and homes, having children with all the material things that were needed in life, spending time with your friends and family, or shopping. While there isn’t anything wrong with any of this, it cannot give you joy, and the happiness can be gone before the day is over.
For years as I walked through trials, persecution and loss, grief and pain, I learned the only thing in life that gives you a lasting happy feeling is the joy that only Christ can give. No one can take that from me not even the devil for I’ve learned how to praise my way through. This takes my eyes off the problems and on the SOLUTION (My Father God). He lives in my heart and that keeps me joyful.
Sue Yglesias Neames
Enjoy Life…It’s God’s Gift Day 59
“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
What brings you joy? You want to know what brings me joy? When God speaks to my heart, spending down time with my husband, playing games with my children and cooking for people that appreciate it. Oh yeah, I can slap burn the mall up too. I really enjoy a good shopping trip when I’m in the mood. This might sound funny, but the Lord has actually anointed me to shop on certain days. All the deals that I get sometimes, shoot, it must be God!
Some people may think that isn’t very spiritual but you know what, God’s word states that He wants me to work hard and then enjoy the fruits of my labor. God is for you, not against you. There’s nothing wrong with having fun. The key to life is balance. Be responsible, fulfill your obligations, then go see a show or go swimming, teach a class or why not just take a break and play a game with your kids. Hey, why don’t you break bad and do something you’ve been afraid to try?
Jeannie Sinclair
Day 60 Are We Pleasing Him?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Abraham Maslow once said, “I have found that every person who was sincerely happy and radiantly alive was living for a purpose or a cause beyond himself.”
There is a great joy in living and working for a purpose that is bigger than us. The greatest work that we can ever do is the work of God. The idea of God giving salvation to man by dying on the cross for the sins of man through Jesus and then raising Him from the dead three days later, and defeating death is mind-boggling. What’s even more mind-boggling is that God chooses us, gives us the responsibility of telling this message to others and helping them to accept this salvation. We get to point people to Christ! That’s exciting! God wants you to have a life of joy. Remember, having a life filled with joy is your attitude and not hampering the Holy Spirit as He transforms your life to make you more like Christ.
Chris Altazan
Joy
For The Spiritual Journey
I cried the morning that I wrote this…there is so much grief and suffering in this world. Sometimes I just tell the Lord that I’ll be glad to see Him in His heaven. This world can be cold and hard at times. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, white or black, Jew or Greek, tragedy strikes all of us at sometime, either through the loss of a loved one, sickness in our bodies, broken dreams or perhaps the folding of a business.
The Bible states that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” In Luke 15:7, we read that all of heaven rejoices over one person that repents, or changes his way. Truly there is nothing in this world that could ever compare to the joy of being prepared to go home. You would have to be outside of your mind to think that any riches, person or fame is worth trading Heaven for. Everything that is here is passing away, just as we are; the only thing worth striving for is our relationship with our God and to help others along the way.
True joy is only found in the thing that brings God joy and that is mainly, the successful journey of His people. When we find our way in life through Jesus, joy will remain; it will have nothing to do with circumstances or situations. Joy is more a state of mind. We hope these devotionals will help you on your journey.
God bless,
Ricky & Jeannie Sinclair
