Loss, grief, hardships, pain, and suffering can all dampen our happiness, but surprisingly, we “can” find joy in every single day as believers. Let’s journey in discovery to the Unspeakable Joy that happens no matter the circumstances or situation. It is easy to obtain through Christ Jesus our Lord!
JulieAnn Griffin
Day 1
Scriptures: James 1:2-8, James 4:2, Psalms 51:12
Get Ready, Soldier!
I was an Army brat growing up. We moved many times, whether my dad was enlisted or not, because of his Army background and lack of contentment. He served in Vietnam and saw many atrocities.
While in this space, I’d like to thank ALL who have served and are serving in any military branch of the great United States of America. I always say that Missionaries and the Military are my biggest Earthly heroes. They sign up to risk their lives and sacrifice so much so that others can live free. This reminds me of Someone very Special who came before any of them and sacrificed the ultimate price.
We are all called to be soldiers in the Army of Jesus Christ. We are all called to live joyously and victoriously by daily deploying Jesus Christ as the very core of who we are. Our identity should be found solely in Him!
How can we live in a state of deployed joy when so much goes wrong around us/in us/with our loved ones? Scripture tells us to “Count it all JOY” when we suffer in different ways because we know that it will give us steadfastness; it strengthens us and completes us so that we lack nothing.
What? Count it all joy when I am grieving? When I am hurting? When I see atrocities around me, that makes no sense? The short answer is yes.
Sometimes, merely asking for it is all that’s needed. The Lord will deploy joy to our spirit, heart, and mind because it is in His will! James tells us that we “have not, because we ask not.” (James 4:2)
If I find myself having “stinking thinking,” then I can quickly ask Jesus to “restore to me the joy of His salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12). He is Faithful and Just to give us what we ask when it is within His will for us.
PRAYER:
Jesus,
Ready me, Your soldier deployed by The Almighty, Yourself. I am chosen. I am wanted and loved, and only You can equip me for the battles I face now and will face later. Dress me fully in the armor of God that I may better serve you and do it with joy. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen!
Day 2
Scriptures: Psalms 94:19, Lamentations 3:22-23, Psalms 3:3, Psalms 55:22, Romans 8:37
Camouflage
Most Christians desire to be authentic and effective in the cause of Christ. Sometimes, however, we put on camouflage (our masks) to hide what we don’t want others to see about us.
When someone asks how you are doing, do you say, “I’m doing fine,” when you are torn apart inside? You don’t necessarily want to affect others with your misery. I get it—I’ve been there, done that, and have the T-shirt.
What I have discovered over my tremendous journey of a year of massive grief is that I can confidently say that I AM okay, whether I “feel OK” or not. I’m not lying when I do this. I am speaking what The Lord has said about me and has put on the horizon for me instead of walking in how I feel. It’s a choice that I make based on God’s Word. When the cares of my heart are many, His consolations cheer my soul! (Paslm 94:19)
Friends, reflect on His goodness, His mercies that are new every morning, His great love for you, and the sacrifice made for you, and then you can take off that camouflage that you tried to cover up with! Then, you can stand upright in the confidence of your Creator! He is the Sustainer! He will never permit the righteous to be moved! (Lam 3:22-23, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 55:22)
He wants all defenses down so that He can be the Master and joy of our lives. We can’t live in victory with a barricade made by ourselves that prevents Him from taking control of our situation and/or circumstance.
If we walk confidently in what His Word says about us…then there’s no reason to have a gloom & doom attitude as a believer! Our fight has ALREADY BEEN WON! We are MORE than conquerors! (Rom. 8:37) Do you “Roger that?” 🙂
PRAYER:
Master,
You are the Creator, The Sustainer, and The Lifter of my head! Teach me to walk confidently in the Joy of The Lord so that my spirit, heart, mind, and soul will be well with You despite my situation. Help me not to camouflage what you already know to be accurate, and help me to walk in YOUR Truths and put the devil’s lies about me where they belong…under my feet.
In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen!
Day 3
Scriptures: Ephesians 6:13-17, Psalms 16:11, Psalms 32:11
Artillery
Do you get fully dressed when you get up every morning? I am not just talking about covering yourself with civilian clothes. Do you prepare yourself with the whole armor of God so that your joy may be complete in Him? These pieces are your artillery and your defense. We can’t be ready for the day without them.
It’s hard to deploy Joy into your day and life when you are an open target for the enemy because you have not put all the pieces that God has given you to fight your current battles and those ahead of you.
How do you make sure that you are ready? Prayer and study. At least 30 minutes of your time up front should be given to the Creator! Prayer and study alone can instill JOY into your being. It will lift you, put a pep in your step, make your day go ten times better than expected, and help you start your day on the right foot. Read Ephesians 6:13-17 and soak it in. You can’t just put on “part” of the armor of God and expect a good outcome. He has clarified what God’s “full” armor is to be so we can be steadfast and ready.
Jesus has graciously gifted us with this artillery so that we can not only activate joy for ourselves by knowing that He has already won the battle for us, but we can also affect others with that joy. (Psalm 16:11, Psalm 32:11)
Ponder these lyrics, and pray them over yourself today:
I have found His grace is all complete;
He supplieth every need.
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.
CHORUS:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory.
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory;
O the half has never yet been told!
I have found the pleasure I once craved;
It is joy and peace within.
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin. [Chorus]
I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace.
O the Savior’s presence is so near;
I can see His smiling face. [Chorus]
I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’er flowing well,
Springing up within my soul. [Chorus]
Day 4
Scriptures: 1 Peter 2:2, 1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
RANKS
In the military, rank advancement typically depends on a combination of time-in-service, demonstrated competency, and performance evaluations. Enlisted ranks often rely on time-in-grade and time-in-service, while officer promotions can be subject to board review. There are sometimes exceptions to rank advancement, like our daughter, who went into the National Guard. Because she was already through medical school when she enlisted, she was immediately considered a Captain upon entering, thanks to her education already under her belt.
There are many ranks in the military. There are also many different ranks as a Christian. Some do life joyfully, while others make you wonder if they’ve ever thought about telling their face they’re supposed to live victoriously in Christ Jesus with joy! Scripture tells us to do all things “heartily as unto the Lord!” (Col. 3:23) If we can grasp that mindset, there’s no reason to hold back the Joy that came inside us that day we were saved! As a believer, with Christ IN YOU, you have been gifted with the power of The Holy Spirit to always exercise joy.
We can exude joy within our current rank simply because of the finished work on the cross that Jesus did for each one of us! 1 Peter 2:24 tells us: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
HEALED! Is that something to express joy about? Salvation! Is that something to be joyful about? Are you working on advancing your ranking with God? If we work on righteousness via study, prayer, and application, we can’t help but exude joy! (1 Peter 1:8)
Today, priorities are a struggle. People struggle to be content, joyous, calm, and loving. Sadly, it’s a me, me, me society that we live in. If we each could take a step back and use our own personal names to enter into 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 in the place of the word “love…” then we would look more like what Jesus wants!
For instance:
“Toni is patient and kind. Toni does not envy or boast: Toni is not arrogant or rude. Toni does not insist on her own way. Toni is not irritable or resentful; Toni does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the Truth. Toni bears all things, hopes in all things, and endures all things!”
Write that down for yourself today!
PRAYER
Father,
Help me love as YOU when dealing with everything daily. Fill me with Your Word, Your Hope, and Your Joy. Be my Anthem to walk into each day with!
In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.