Listen

You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. Beautiful things are always in your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Think

When I was a kid, I loved the candy called Gobstoppers. It was supposed to be like the candy that lasts forever in the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It did last a really long time, but it didn’t last forever.

A lot of things that make us happy don’t last very long. A funny video, a good grade, or a great day at practice can lift our mood, but those feelings fade. The next day might feel totally different. That’s why Psalm 16 is so powerful. It points to a kind of joy that lasts, no matter your situation or circumstances. That joy comes from being with God.

When we draw close to God, we find a kind of joy that lasts. When you spend time with God through prayer, music, or reading scripture, you connect with a joy that stays with you through everything. Even when your life is full of change, stress, or struggle, God’s joy remains steady. It isn’t going anywhere.

Lauren Mills

Question to Ponder:

Where do you see God’s lasting joy in your life right now?

Pray

God, help me notice the joy in being close to you today, even when life feels ordinary.

Amen.

Go

May you walk in the deep joy of Jesus today: joy that stays with you in every moment and flows from God’s heart to yours.