Scriptures: Nehemiah 8:10, Galatians 5:22-23

The Apostle of Joy

I’m so glad you’ve decided to begin this study! Throughout my life, I’ve learned that choosing joy and joy-filled thoughts can change every aspect of our lives! And I want to encourage you that no matter where you’re starting from, you can truly live a life of joy—in every circumstance, regardless of your situation.

If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the Apostle Paul’s story. As a young man, he was zealous in following the Jewish law—zealous to the point that he persecuted Christians. But even though Paul (then called Saul) did many wrong things, God, in His mercy, chose to visit him on the road to Damascus in an amazing way.

Paul’s experience changed him completely. He was forgiven and so transformed, that after his personal encounter with Jesus, Paul forever turned his back on his old life and began pouring all of his passion and energy into helping others know Jesus and live victorious Christian lives. One of the lessons of Paul’s miraculous conversion is: If God’s grace can transform a persecutor of Christians into one of Christianity’s greatest heroes, He can do anything for anybody. No matter what you need in your life, God can bring it to pass—and that includes joy.

As a matter of fact, one of the hallmarks of Paul’s life and writings is his unbounded joy. He’s even been called “the Apostle of Joy.” You see, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23), and is a quality that can range from extreme hilarity to calm delight. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us as believers, we can have and demonstrate joy in every circumstance we face.

Anyone can be joyful when they have everything they want or when everything is going their way, but it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to remain steadfastly joyful in our hearts when we face difficulties or disappointments. Joy helps us enjoy life’s happy seasons and gives us strength to persevere in faith and trust through hard times. According to Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV), …The joy of the Lord is your strength. The more joyful you are, the stronger you will be.

So just as God met Paul on a journey and transformed him into a man of joy, I pray that God will meet you on your journey through His Word over the next seven days, as you gain strength to be joyful in every circumstance.

The lessons from God’s Word in this study have changed my life, helped me mature in Christ, and taught me to find joy in each day, no matter what it may hold. And I believe that they will do the same for you as you meditate on them and apply them to your life. I am praying for you as you go through this study, believing God will use it to draw you into the joy that comes with a deeper, more intimate, and more powerful relationship with Him.

Adapted from the book Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Lord, as I start this journey, please open my heart to Your Word. No matter where I’m starting from, I know that You can do anything for anyone—and that includes helping me enjoy my life every single day. Transform me like you did Paul, so that I too can experience overwhelming joy that only comes from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Galatians 1:3-5, Ephesians 2:8

Grace, Peace, and Joy 

Last time, we talked about how Paul was often called the “Apostle of Joy.” Well interestingly enough, Paul frequently opens his letters with, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” These words aren’t simply a salutation, but a beautiful and powerful blessing—one that Paul firmly believed led directly to a joy-filled life. 

Over the years, I have come up with my own personal description of grace. To me, grace is God’s freely-given, undeserved favor and power that enables us to do with ease what we could never do on our own with any amount of struggle or self-effort. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:8), and we can live our everyday lives—caring for our families, running our households, fulfilling our job responsibilities, and doing everything else we do each day—by grace through faith. There are no limits to the ways we need God’s grace, and thankfully, there is no limit to the grace God is willing to give us. 

Understanding and receiving God’s grace makes it possible for us to live in peace. When I hear people say they have no peace in their lives, I feel sorry for them, because a life without peace is difficult, stressful, and joyless. Regardless of what else anyone may have—power, good looks, riches, an engaging personality, influential friends, or possessions—it’s worth nothing if they don’t have peace to go along with it. In fact, all of these external things can become burdens when people do not have peace on the inside. 

Grace leads to peace, and peace leads to joy. In fact, I don’t think it’s possible to be truly joyful if we are not living in God’s grace and peace. Now, when I use the word joy or joyful, I’m not referring to what the world calls “happiness” or “happy.” Happiness rises and falls, depending on the situations or moods in which people find themselves. But joy remains steady through ups and downs, even despite what we’d call “a bad mood.” Joy is not determined by circumstances. It is a gift from God, and it follows a life of grace and peace. As an old song says about joy, “The world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away.” 

As we move forward in this journey together, I pray grace and peace for you. And one of the greatest ways you can receive God’s grace is by spending time with Him—talking to Him throughout your day, reading His Word, and just letting Him know You need His help with everything. 

I hope you’ll become increasingly aware of all the ways God’s grace and peace will help you in every area of your life. I also pray that you will deliberately watch for Him to extend grace and peace to you, because when you look for them, you will see that He makes them available in more ways than you may have imagined. 

Adapted from the book Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 

Prayer: “Lord, please help me to recognize and receive Your amazing grace in my life. I can look for happiness in a lot of places, but only You can provide me with true peace and joy, regardless of my circumstances. Thank You for Your unconditional love in my life! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:23-24, Matthew 18:19, Philippians 2:2

Avoiding Strife

When you think of the way you feel during an argument, what words come to mind? I’m sure that joyful is not one of them. Arguments and quarrels with other people quench the joy in our hearts and leave us feeling angry, upset, rejected, frustrated, confused, or sad. This is why Paul urges us to diligently avoid foolish talk, arguments, or quarrels.

Paul notes that those who serve the Lord “must be kind to everyone.” The Amplified Classic Edition of this verse says: …must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]. I like to summarize this by saying that God’s people should be makers and maintainers of peace, which means we should be diligent not to engage in strife.

We don’t hear the word strife often, but it is characterized by unpleasantness in relationships, contention, bickering, arguing, offense, or heated disagreements. When strife is present, an angry undercurrent flows among individuals or groups of people, causing tension and quarrels. Strife destroys marriages, families, friendships, businesses, and churches. It is a tool Satan uses to stop the will of God—and like a deadly, contagious disease, it spreads rapidly unless people confront it.

As people of God, it is important for us to avoid foolish arguments and strife, and be willing to humble ourselves and do all we can do to maintain peace with others. Paul knew the power believers have when we live in unity and agreement (see Matthew 18:19) and told the Philippians they would complete his joy if they lived in harmony (see Philippians 2:2). Without peace, we are without power and without joy. But withunity, we release God’s presence and power, and life in turn is peaceful and pleasant.

So I urge you not to get involved in conversations that lead to strife. Avoid controversies over issues that don’t even matter, and refuse to be involved in gossip or tell other people’s secrets. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit help you to be a person who avoids strife, restores peace, and spreads joy everywhere you go.

Adapted from the book Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pray: “Lord, I know the world we live in is filled with conflict. Please, train me to be a source of peace instead of strife. Help me maintain my joy—and be a source of joy—in stressful situations. With You helping me, I know I can have peace—and share that peace with others—in every situation. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, James 1:6

Set Your Mind Toward Joy

As we come to the end of our study, you might be wondering, What now? Where do I go from here? Well, the most important advice I can give you is to set your mind on being joyful, and don’t let it be swayed. As I like to say, “Where the mind goes, the man follows.” A made-up mind is very powerful. Because what we think about determines the quality of our life. When we think joyful thoughts, we live a joyful life.

The Amplified Classic Version of the Bible is the only one I know where today’s verse reads, “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above” (emphasis mine). Setting our minds on the right thing once or twice won’t do us much good, but if we set them in the right direction and keep them set—without wavering—we will live in strength and victory.

When Paul urges us to set our minds and keep them set “on what is above (the higher things),” he means that if we want to live a high life—a life that honors God—we cannot think about things that are low, common or ungodly. Low thoughts include thinking about what you don’t have, instead of what you do have…or thinking about people who have things you would like, and saying they don’t deserve them. Jealousy, pride, anger, comparison, and judgment are low, along with holding grudges against people instead of forgiving them.

As you move forward, I want to encourage you to set your mind on being joyful—and keep it set. Don’t give in to doubt. The apostle James says, The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind… (James 1:6 NIV). Once you’ve explored your options, prayed, sought God’s will, and made a decision about a matter, you can set your mind firmly on that course of action. Because when you have a made-up mind, and you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior with the Holy Spirit to help guide you, there is nothing you cannot do through Christ. You may not have victory overnight, but you will have it eventually. So go out and set your mind on the high things—the joyful things—and never give up!

Adapted from the book Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pray: “Lord, as I finish this study, help me remember the lessons I’ve learned so far and help me to keep my mind set on living a life of joy. Even in the midst of doubt or times of difficulty, help me to remain positive, peaceful and joyful in my thoughts and attitudes. Because when I think like You do—when I think according to Your Word—it has the ability to change my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”