🔴 WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY?
A Devotional written by Diana L.W. Coleman for Our Given Purpose®
Bible Reading: Isaiah 35:10, 1 Chronicles 16:27, Romans 12:19
1 Chronicles 16:27 “Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.”
🔴 As a child, perhaps it is getting to play with your friends, having a pass from chores, homework, or a sleepover at grandparents who will indulge you with all the pizza and junk food late into the night—playing monopoly, watching cartoons, and having ice cream for breakfast with bacon, pancakes dripping with sugary syrup.
The years progress and you’re celebrating being a teen, perhaps getting your driver’s permit and looking forward to owning a car. Turning 18 and receiving the gift of a voter registration card.
Moving into a young adult, graduating from college, renting an apartment, landing your dream job, and being on your own is the next step in ‘adulting.’ Or maybe you’re more sensible and living at home, saving for a down payment on a home, or investing in your entrepreneurial venture.
As a parent, raising your children to revere the Lord and being productive while contributing successfully to society.
As a retiree, hoping you have passed each of the journeys mentioned above that your offspring is remembering, the acronym you taught them – what real J.O.Y. is.
They must protect and not give up, not one letter of J.O.Y. The J is for Jesus, the O for how He is the Only True God, and he requires Obedience, the Y is to remind them to never Yield to the temptation of falsehoods. Giving up the J leaves you saying O.Y.; giving up the O will have you crying Y!
Joy can only come from a right relationship with God. Without God, there is no J.O.Y. Don’t confuse what makes you happy with that which brings you J.O.Y.
Getting a pass from daily routines, permits, achievements, and worldly pleasures are temporary. Nehemiah 8:10b tells us, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
- Do you want this JOY?
- Will you ask Jesus to give you His Joy?
~A Devotional by Diana L.W.Coleman
This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.
Awesome