Pause: A Month of Joy in Five Minutes a DaySample

Proclaim

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Phil. 4:4-5)

Prompt

Sometimes joy needs a reboot. Routine is great and necessary, but it can sometimes lead to a dullness that gets in the way of our joy.

When you find yourself in that place, ask yourself how you can change things up just enough to find your joy again. It can be something as dramatic as taking a vacation or something as subtle as spending your morning prayer time walking instead of kneeling by your bed.

If you’re in that spot where your joy needs to be refreshed, don’t wait! Hit that RESET button today. Do something—still within the guidelines of your routine—to jostle your joy.

Prod

Make a slight—but healthy!—difference in your routine today to make room for God to show you unexpected joy. Here are some things I love to do to deepen my relationship with God. When I do these things, my joy is reset and refilled. He is the author and caretaker of joy after all!

• Go on a long walk
• Exercise ‘til you can’t anymore (full exhaustion)
• Call someone and tell them how grateful you are for them
• Spend time with an employee or co-worker who needs you
• Fill your spouse’s or significant other’s love tank by speaking their love language!

Praise

Listen to “I’ll Follow” by Cody Carnes

Pray

Jesus, thank you for joy in the routine—and for joy outside of it. Today I want to stop and seek you in a new and different way. As I do, please meet me there and fill me with the joy that only comes from you. Amen.