31/365: Joy Cannot Be Stolen

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. ~ Proverbs 15:15

Joy cannot be stolen, but you can choose to give it away.

Each day, we get to choose how we respond and live in God's amazing creation. We can decide to live "afflicted" or live "effective".

You can't control the world or the bad stuff happening around you. But you can control how you respond to difficulty.

You are in charge of your attitude. Joy is a decision - no matter the circumstance.

GO DEEPER: John 16: 16-22

NEXT STEP: Ask God to help you turn toward joy and away from the circumstances which keep joy out of reach.

Damon

on 02/01/2023 at 04:14 PM

Choosing to have a cheerful heart and choose joy today

Nick W

on 02/01/2023 at 04:27 AM

This message is so timely for me. I only wish I had started my day with it, rather than getting so distracted and busy that I'm only now ending my day with it! I'm struggling right now with the difficulties of a new job where I'm feeling a bit under utilized and slightly frustrated by a lack of structure and evidence of past shortcut taking that's now being paid for. I hadn't even realized how I have been allowing myself to feel defeated by my environment, rather than recognizing that God has brought me here to be part of the solution. How can I hope to be a light to my colleagues without being able to demonstrate the hope that comes from having a personal relationship with my Lord?

Andrew.roark

on 02/01/2023 at 02:13 AM

Life if 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it-Lou Holtz

Nightrain48

on 01/31/2023 at 08:08 PM

I like that Robert! Happiness depends on circumstances and Joy is a choice.

Kevin Miller

on 01/31/2023 at 07:08 PM

This is so true. I have to choose joy everyday. I spent many years not choosing joy living in depression and anger which only lead to drugs and alcohol. Joy is so much better and true joy comes from God. That’s why Paul was able to praise God while in jail. He chose joy.

Whiteeagle

on 01/31/2023 at 06:28 PM

Happiness is a choice Joy is a gift. I experience Joy when I serve others. Joy that I get to share and give to others. I’m grateful to be God’s child today.

Ethan

on 01/31/2023 at 03:50 PM

Joy is a wonderful thing, more powerful than happiness, as happiness is fleeting. I have found that chasing happiness all my life has been in vain. Today, I seek peace, without it, there can be no happiness and certainly no joy. A large facet of joy is being truely happy for others around you. A joy-filled heart has no complaints.

traviszinger@gmail.com

on 01/31/2023 at 03:34 PM

correction but I could control how I reacted

Travis

on 01/31/2023 at 03:31 PM

This spoke very powerfully to me! I couldn't help but think of the traumatic brain injury that I had nearly 30 years ago, it completely changed my life. having multitudes of prayer and support, one of the things I kept repeating to myself was that I cannot control what happens in life but I can't control how I reacted to it. it has gotten me to where I am today and I will never forget those words. praise be to God

Tim Debronsky

on 01/31/2023 at 03:05 PM

Amen. Don’t let anything or anyone steal your Joy today. God Bless

Jonas Woolbrigh

on 01/31/2023 at 02:33 PM

The world will let you down. The solid rock is Christ. Thank you GOD!

Boyce Moses

on 01/31/2023 at 02:03 PM

Know God, Know Joy. Simple but true. Love you Jesus! 💛💜🤍🧡

Brandon Pembleton

on 01/31/2023 at 01:50 PM

For me it all starts and ends with how is my gratitude towards God for all the situations. Especially the hard ones. The hard seasons are intense training seasons like an intense HIIT workout - there's peaks of intense pain followed by peaks of intense euphoria. It's easy to chase the euphoria, but the real chase the one that brings the spark of JOY to me isn't the chase it's the constant process of releasing everything to God bad and good every morning, day, and night. I am so blessed to have had the bumpy road to get here. It makes me so grateful to your power and will God. I love you God amen 🙏

croberts

on 01/31/2023 at 01:22 PM

Acronym for JOY- Jesus, Others, You. Be joyful.

michael f vinning

on 01/31/2023 at 01:20 PM

People usually scoff when I tel them this…mood, attitude, JOY, and love are all decisions…you can choose them…but there’s no way to choose them without knowing Jesus…without the peace that he gives that surpasses all understanding, its impossible to choose Joy and walk in the freedom that he died to give! This was a game changer for me…some days it still seems foreign but man the days I get it are the best!!

Tim

on 01/31/2023 at 01:06 PM

Amen!!! Joy is a choice that is made much easier when close to GOD!! The more time I spend in church, in my bible, praying, and helping others the more Joy I have in my everyday life. As “The Bible Recap” app says “He’s where the Joys at”.

Tommy Williamson

on 01/31/2023 at 01:02 PM

Proverbs 10: 28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. Romans15: 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we walk each day in the Lord we walk with His JOY all around us and flooding every parts of our being. On days that we are not right with the and we have let something come between us then that Joy begins to fade. Use the Joy in your live as a gauge to tell you where your walk is at that moment. The more JOY we feel the closer we walk with the Lord. The less JOY we feel the further we have wondered. Nobody can steal our JOY because our JOY comes from the Lord. Only we can rob our own JOY by not staying as close to the Lord as possible.

Barry Percival

on 01/31/2023 at 12:33 PM

The Joy of the Lord is my strength. I need to remind myself this time and time again. “Though no one go with me, still I will follow.” Lord, turn this sadness and despair into joy and strength!

Robert McFaddin

on 01/31/2023 at 12:18 PM

Joy is the choice. Happiness depends on circumstances and can come and go much, much easier. Joy is based on Jesus who will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. My life has REALLY sucked. I have struggled with depression at times. I doubted my salvation. But, praise God!!!, Jesus is faithful. He is with me ALWAYS and I get to spend eternity with Him!

31/365: Joy Cannot Be Stolen

Comments