Monday, October 10, 2022

Monday, October 10, 2022
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

It says something that in a perfect world, it was not good for man to be alone. God saw that, even in the best of circumstances, Adam needed a companion, so He took a rib from Adam and made Eve. God puts people in your life to help you, and in the same way He has put you in other people’s lives to help them. Like iron sharpening iron, one person sharpens another and makes them better than they were before. As you try every day to be more like Christ, allow yourself to be sharpened by the influence of others, while also taking the opportunities God gives you to sharpen others.

Friday, October 7, 2022

Friday, October 7, 2022
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

You can find joy in the arms of the Lord and not dwell on the stresses of life, but you shouldn’t ignore the importance of your decisions in that life. God made you who you are, where you are, when you are for a reason. It’s not His will for you to cast off all responsibility and live a life that’s less than righteous, ignoring His commandments and doing what you please. In order for Christ’s supernatural joy to live in you, you must be committed to Him, and not to yourself. Live righteously, avoiding sin and fleeing from temptations, and you can have joy knowing that your life is one that is pleasing to God.

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Thursday, October 6, 2022
Luke 2:10
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Life must have looked pretty bleak before the Messiah arrived. But what joyful news the angel delivered to the shepherds in the fields the night that Jesus was born! The Savior of the world had come, and that news is just as meaningful for you today as it was for the shepherds back then. The fact that the God of the universe loves you and sent His son to pay for your wrongdoings personally should bring you all the joy in the world. And unlike other kinds of joy, the kind that is rooted in Christ cant be taken away, because your relationship with Christ is eternal, if you accept Him.

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Wednesday, October 5, 2022
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

You haven’t seen Christ in the flesh, but you love Him. You didn’t see Him nailed to the cross and resurrected from the dead, but you trust that He paid for your sins. That’s because faith is the assurance of things we haven’t seen. Rejoice with glorious, inexpressible joy in knowing that, even if you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, God can. Place your happiness and hope in what you haven’t seen yet, instead of focusing on the difficulties that seem all too

present. Your present sufferings cannot be compared with the wonderful things that the Lord has in store for you.

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.

God gave us instructions in His word on how to walk the “paths of life.” The fullest life is one lived with the Lord’s will as a first priority: that means refraining from sin, loving others, and obeying when you feel the Holy Spirit tugging you. After all, what real joy could you ever have in life, if in the back of your mind you know that you’re ignoring His calling? His presence in your life will bring joy and gladness, but in order to be present, He must also be relevant. If you want to experience the supernatural joy of the Lord, make Him a part of your every day through prayer, obedience, and keeping an ear open for His voice.

Monday, October 3, 2022

Monday, October 3, 2022
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

It’s saddening to see people living without joy, especially when joy is so readily available in Jesus. God is a God of overflowing love and everlasting peace; imagine having a relationship with Him and being called His own child! Those whose sins are covered by the blood of Christ have become new creations, and their destiny is guaranteed. Heaven awaits, so while you’re living this brief life on earth, pray that God would fill you with joy and peace. Not only can you be hopeful as a Christian, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can abound in hope.