Today I offer a prayer on the advent theme of joy. If you’re anything like me, joy can be ‘hard to find’ in difficult seasons. Yet, God doesn’t withhold joy from us, it is promised to us if only we receive and embrace it (like most/all of God’s blessings).
Father God, our Lord of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness Gentleness, and Self Control, we praise Your holy and magnificent name. Even though we encounter many trials in this life, You encourage us to remain joyful, for those trials can draw us nearer to You and can make us better representatives of Christ. We are asked to remain joyful in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. Since this is difficult (or nearly impossible) for us at times, please remind us to rejoice in You always, especially when we’re in the midst of great hardship. We may have sorrow now, but when we turn our face to You our hearts can rejoice, and that joy cannot be taken from us. Jesus invites us to ask for things in His name so that we may receive them, and our joy may be full. We ask Father that You would please fill us with Your presence and joy, that our joy may be full to the point of overflowing. May we rejoice in each new day for it is a day with which You have blessed us. Your Holy Spirit O Lord is here in our hearts and He brings peace and joy if we allow Him. You will put more joy in our hearts than any amount of worldly possessions can bring. You make known to us the path of life, in Your presence there is fullness of joy, and by Your hand there are pleasures forevermore. May we remember Your joy is good medicine to our spirit and nourishment to our bodies. All praise, honor, and glory be unto You O Lord, for You fill us with hope and joy in believing, and the power of Your Spirit helps us abound in hope, each and every moment, of each and every day. Amen.
[Inspired by: Gal 5:22-23, Jas 1:2, Rm 12:12, Php 4:4, Jn 16:22,24, Jn 15:11, Osa 118:24, Rm 14:17, Psa 4:7, Psa 16:11, Rm 15:13]
~ Conqueror in Training