WE CAN HAVE JOY
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
John 16:21-24 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
One of the great gifts of being a follower of Jesus is the joy the Holy Spirit brings into our lives. This joy is not based on circumstances, resources, or comfort in our lives. The joy of the Spirit is an inner joy that saturates our souls.
Throughout the teachings of Jesus and Paul in the New Testament we find love, joy, and peace linked together. Each of these should characterize our lives. Yet, each of these require us to live a non-hurried life to display them properly.
We can’t have love, joy, and peace and be rushing from one thing to another.
The presence of joy in our lives is shown in our ability to be present in the moment. If we are constantly thinking about our next meeting, phone call, or email we can’t be present in this moment to experience the joy of this moment.
In our passage today Jesus compares our spiritual journey to a woman in labor. She is in great pain now but as soon as the baby is delivered, she has great joy and will even forget the pain. Even though there may be conflict, injustice, and pain in our present moment, we can have joy because we know Jesus is in charge and good is coming.
There is also a connection to prayer. When we come to our Heavenly Father in prayer we leave with “abundant joy.”
My mind often gets sidetracked with problems and issues that I think I need to solve. I must remind myself to talk to my Heavenly Father. When I visit with Father God there is something that happens inside of me. There is a joy that comes from being in His presence. But I must slow down my hurried pace of life to discover this joy.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me today to slow down and receive Your joy. Help me to daily have time to stop and encounter Your presence to renew Your joy in my life.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”