Make this day JOYful

When you woke up this morning, what were your first thoughts? It doesn’t matter. You can begin right now to change your thoughts and change your day. If you started in sadness or grief or chaos or turmoil, it might be tough, but you can do this. The writer of Ephesians 2:19 tells us that the same power source that raised Jesus from the dead lives in the hearts of those who trust in Him. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”bible crown of thorns and heart image 2
I know. It isn’t easy. But neither is dwelling on circumstances we wish were anything but what they are. We know our own journeys and sometimes wonder how we got to this place when it isn’t what we signed up for. You know Proverbs 16:9 hints at this. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” It’s not a one done prayer but I often have to stop right where I am and say, “Lord, make your plan my plan.” God doesn’t wave a magic wand and ‘presto!’ my circumstances are different. “Lord, make your plan my plan” is a tiny step in the right direction. Believe me, I have not perfected the process – but I keep trying.
Life is a contact sport and I don’t have it all figured out, but God does. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You, Lord God, will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” It isn’t a sign of weakness or immaturity to give up and surrender everything to God. In fact, there’s a verse in Matthew 19:26 that says, Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible, but with God everything is possible.” For us, we see the impossible, but God says with him it is possible.
Back to Ephesians 2:18, here’s a prayer from Paul that I hope encourages you today. “ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” The inheritance is eternal life in heaven, but I believe the scriptures we read today are intended to comfort us in this day.
Philippians 4:13 says, I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Here’s this day . . . what can you and God do together to make it JOYful?

2 thoughts on “Make this day JOYful”

    • Fern, thank you for letting me know so I can pray for you. We are gone all day today and after my quiet time with the Lord my window of time was so short I wasn’t going to post anything. But then I had this sense that maybe I could share a little bit to encourage even one person. Praying peace and joy for you.

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