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

Joy often looks like gladness. It’s fun to be glad, isn’t it?! I love being glad—when my joy radiates out like a big smile on my face.

But joy doesn’t always take the form of gladness. Sure, it’s awesome to feel glad, but sometimes joy shows up and it just looks like contentment.

All that to say: don’t worry if you don’t feel glad today! Gladness is not the end result—joy is. You can have a whirlwind of chaos going on in your life, but if you’re content with what God is doing within you and through you, then you have joy!

Today, you might be a “content type of joy” day. That’s okay. Thank God that you have everything you need because He gave everything He had for YOU!

Prod

When’s the last time you felt content? Ask the Lord for the contentment of His joy today. This could be tough for you to just be okay with what you have. If so, share why contentment is tough for you.

Praise

Listen to “Kind” by Cory Asbury

Pray

Jesus, I need your help to feel content. Sometimes I find myself just comparing everything I have and everything I do with others. My eyes wander to someone else's life and I just struggle with where mine is. But God, you call me your own. You tell me I am saved and sanctified, a light in the world. You call me your friend and a co-heir with Jesus. You tell me I am chosen, adopted, and made alive in Christ. Let me walk in these truths and fill my life with a contented joy today. Amen.