Read Debora Coty's encouraging words and remember how much God loves you. This devotional for women will provide uplifting messages for prayer no matter where you are in your journey.

Splashing Joy

Joy-seeds are planted in good heart soil. So, God’s people, shout praise to God, give thanks to our Holy God!

Psalm 97:11-12 MSG

The beginning of a new year is a good time to take stock and assess goals for the coming year. For me, that means sitting on the wooden swing in my backyard beneath the canopy of oak trees and spending some quality face time with Papa God. This year, I feel compelled to get more in touch with my Jesus-joy, which flows deep in the veins of believers but is sometimes buried beneath the cares of the world which can pile up and block the flow like a beaver’s dam if we let them. And sadly, I do. I allow worries and problems to collect like logs and make me lose touch with the refreshing, bubbling joy of knowing Jesus.

But I’m going to do better this year. I’m going to be cognizant that Jesus-joy is ninety percent gratitude and comes from knowing what Jesus did for me—not deterred by my circumstances—and choose to rejoice in His presence daily. Even though I may not feel joyful every moment, if I know Jesus as my friend and Savior, joy is always accessible. And I’d much rather live a lighthearted, joyful life than be oppressed by the joy-sucking dully-funks (my term for the blahs).

As one of my longtime faith heroes, Jill Briscoe, says, “Joy is faith dancing.”* Yep. I think I need a little more dancing in my life. How about you? Jill also says, “God, through His spirit, grants us love, joy, and peace no matter what is happening in our lives. As Christians, we shouldn’t expect our joy to always feel like happiness, but instead recognize joy as inner security—a safeness in our life with Christ.”

I plan to get drenched this year in the joy of the Lord, where my very strength comes from (Nehemiah 8:10). And when Jesus-joy saturates me and overflows, I want it to splash onto everyone around me.

Prayer: Precious Savior, fill me with Your joy and peace as I trust daily in You, so that my joy may overflow onto those around me by the power of the Holy Spirit. All praise to You! Amen.

*Jill Briscoe, Faith Dancing: Conversations in Good Company (Monarch Books, 2009).