JOY

Prayer – Lord, Thank You God that we can make our own choices…we aren't your puppets. Joy and contentment. Those are my choices for today. Help me to spread Your JOY to everyone I meet today. I am content in all things. I need only more of You. 

Always be joyful - like these happy snowmen!
Christmas snowmen gathering
and spreading joy.

Always be joyful.
Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
Stay away from every kind of evil.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, 

and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless 

until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

 

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

This was Paul's teaching to the church at Thessalonica. Good wisdom. I find that when I choose to "always be joyful" my whole attitude toward God and everyone around me changes. My Mom was like that...always joyful. She had times when she was frustrated with us kids, but generally she was always joyful. She chose to be happy. I think she practiced "praying without ceasing" too. She was close to God--and thus thankful for everything she had--especially family and friends. Growing up during the Depression her family didn't have much, so she knew how to make do without—and be satisfied.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

Be content. Good choice to make...during this Advent season...and all year. For today...I choose to be content...to be joyful. How about you...what do you choose?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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