The Practical Part Of Joy

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: James 3:13

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Today’s reading:  Proverbs 27-29 2 Corinthians 10 

The Practical Part Of Joy

“Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:32–34)

Yesterday, we spoke of our ‘money bags’ as heart , soul, and mind. This is where Jesus told us that our love for God is in Matthew 22:37-40. I said I believe that with every step we take toward loving God more, we pack more into our ‘pouches’. This simply means that the more we treasure God in Christ, the more the joy of Jesus becomes complete in us.

God provides all we need(Romans 8:32) for our experience with Him to be as deep as we desire. Psalm 37:4 says God gives us the desires in our hearts. Desires do not ‘naturally’ arise. God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts(James 1:17) so, the more we seek God, the more the Holy Spirit increases our desires.

That little bit of curiosity you have can grow into a mountain of desire and a continuing harvest of joy in your soul and praise to God. Remember Psalm 90:14? “Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love…”

Before anyone thinks this all sounds selfish, stop and hear this: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

God is most highly praised when we are most satisfied in Him-we cannot hold it in.

I hope you see the practical part of this. No genuine believer in Jesus wants to enjoy Jesus alone. The joyful believer wants to spread this joy around to friends-as well as enemies-in sharing the gospel. It is hard to see an unhappy or joyless or angry heart and not want the joy of Christ in them. This means more glory to God.

Tell God where you are and ask Him what He longs to see in your life and then ask Him to change your heart to His will.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

I want my joy to magnify Your name and Your kingdom and I want my desires to be Yours. Increase my desire for You today. Forgive my fear of letting go and allowing You to take me deeper. Lead me away from evil.

Father of discipline,

In Jesus name,

Amen