The Apostle of Joy

I’m so glad you’ve decided to begin this study! Throughout my life, I’ve learned that choosing joy and joy-filled thoughts can change every aspect of our lives! And I want to encourage you that no matter where you’re starting from, you can truly live a life of joy—in every circumstance, regardless of your situation.

If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the Apostle Paul’s story. As a young man, he was zealous in following the Jewish law—zealous to the point that he persecuted Christians. But even though Paul (then called Saul) did many wrong things, God, in His mercy, chose to visit him on the road to Damascus in an amazing way.

Paul’s experience changed him completely. He was forgiven and so transformed, that after his personal encounter with Jesus, Paul forever turned his back on his old life and began pouring all of his passion and energy into helping others know Jesus and live victorious Christian lives. One of the lessons of Paul’s miraculous conversion is: If God’s grace can transform a persecutor of Christians into one of Christianity’s greatest heroes, He can do anything for anybody. No matter what you need in your life, God can bring it to pass—and that includes joy.

As a matter of fact, one of the hallmarks of Paul’s life and writings is his unbounded joy. He’s even been called “the Apostle of Joy.” You see, joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23), and is a quality that can range from extreme hilarity to calm delight. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us as believers, we can have and demonstrate joy in every circumstance we face.

Anyone can be joyful when they have everything they want or when everything is going their way, but it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to remain steadfastly joyful in our hearts when we face difficulties or disappointments. Joy helps us enjoy life’s happy seasons and gives us strength to persevere in faith and trust through hard times. According to Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV), …The joy of the Lord is your strength. The more joyful you are, the stronger you will be.

So just as God met Paul on a journey and transformed him into a man of joy, I pray that God will meet you on your journey through His Word over the next seven days, as you gain strength to be joyful in every circumstance.

The lessons from God’s Word in this study have changed my life, helped me mature in Christ, and taught me to find joy in each day, no matter what it may hold. And I believe that they will do the same for you as you meditate on them and apply them to your life. I am praying for you as you go through this study, believing God will use it to draw you into the joy that comes with a deeper, more intimate, and more powerful relationship with Him.

Adapted from the book Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2022 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Lord, as I start this journey, please open my heart to Your Word. No matter where I’m starting from, I know that You can do anything for anyone—and that includes helping me enjoy my life every single day. Transform me like you did Paul, so that I too can experience overwhelming joy that only comes from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”