We all have seen people trying to find their joy in having more things, bigger parties, or more money, but I think most people would agree that what truly gives them joy, is doing something good, or doing something well. Something good, like making a positive difference in another’s life, or doing something well, like playing a great round of golf, mastering a piece of music, getting an A+, or the like.

An Indian Poet captured this idea in the following quote, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I woke and found that life was service, I acted, and behold, service is joy.” Rabidranath Tagore, (1861-1941)

A couple thousand years earlier, Solomon wrote, after using his unmatched resources to evaluate all life possibilities, in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Here is my final conclusion; Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

Doing our duty to God is what brings joy. Psalm 32:11 says, “So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!”

Simple thinking would tell us that “getting” is what makes us happy, but if we actually try both getting and giving, we find that giving, or as Jesus instructs us, “Loving our neighbor,” is what really provides us joy.

Dear Lord, you give us so much, help us appreciate those things you provide us, but as important, give us the wisdom to see that serving is where joy truly begins. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Think about this for a minute.

Every experience we have in life may be there on purpose, so that we can become the people God wants us to be, for his plan.

If we believed this, would it change how we view our experiences? Would we look at our problems the same way if we knew they were put there by God for our development?

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Psalm 119:91, “Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.”

Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

And the, well known, verse Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

And Happy Birthday today to our wonderful daughter Lauren. We love you!

Dear Lord, Thank you for guiding our steps. Though we may have experiences in life that are unpleasant for us, help us look at them as lessons from you to develop ourselves to be better servants for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A business coach I follow describes the process of Four C’s he believes are required to build confidence,. Commitment, Courage, Capability, Confidence. He says you must first make a commitment to pursue something, then have the courage to try and possibly fail early on. However, once you have practiced you will have built the capability, and with development of that capability you build confidence. The hardest part in this sequence for many people is Courage, because courage is always uncomfortable. In order to build confidence we have to go through this discomfort associated with exercising courage.

James describes a similar situation with our faith. He writes in James 1:2-3, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Either resulting from the discomfort of courage, or the joy in facing troubles with faith, our endurance and confidence in God’s power and love will grow when we count on it.

Dear Lord, when we face difficulties, disappointments, and fears in our lives, help us embrace them with the knowledge that our faith in you is what will carry us through, remembering what Paul told us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You have probably heard someone say, or may have said yourself, “Thanks in advance,” when asking someone for something that you know they can and will do.

I believe that one of the pieces to a truly joyful and peaceful life is having a thankful perspective. It is nearly impossible to be negative, angry, and bitter when we are approaching life with thankfulness.

Taking the thankful perspective to another level, is not only being thankful for the blessings we have today, it is being thankful for the futures God has established for us. It is an expression of trust and faith in Him.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Dear Lord, We thank you that you have truly blessed us with salvation through Jesus Christ. We thank you also that you answer our prayers so we need not worry. We can thank you in advance, because we know you have us in your care. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We often talk about faith, Faith in God’s goodness, Faith that our prayers will be answered, Faith in salvation through Jesus Christ, but how do we know we have faith?

I think we know when we have faith, because we feel peace.

In Luke 7, Jesus was invited to have dinner at the home of a Pharisee. A woman described as having lived a sinful life learns about this and comes to the home, weeps tears on Jesus feet, and pours perfume on them. Jesus tell’s her in Luke 7:50, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Paul writes in Philipians 4:6,7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Dear Lord, Help us grow our faith in your love for us. Then we can have peace, truly believing you will provide for our needs and answer our prayers in ways that are best for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.