A Prayer for Fullness of Joy - Your Daily Prayer - January 26

A Prayer for Fullness of Joy
By: Kristine Brown

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV

I recently met up with two friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. It seemed like forever since we’d laughed, swapped stories, and simply enjoyed being together. The time I spent in their company gave my weary soul the boost of joy it needed.

I hadn’t realized until that day with friends how parched my spirit had become. So much despair in the world was affecting my attitude. Grief and disappointment added to the burden of hopelessness I had chosen to carry. Sure, I had plenty of reasons to be joyful. But I had forgotten to actively seek joy in my everyday life. When we forget to seek joy, weariness will gradually take over.

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 16, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Through these beautiful words, we find hope for when we need more joy in life. The joy we long for can always be found in God’s presence.

Time spent with God will replenish the joy we’ve lost. As we invite Him to lead us each day, we will discover new pleasures. Just like my much-needed date with good friends, we need to prioritize time with the Lord. So, when weariness or despair overwhelms us, the answer is to draw close to Him. Let’s invite God in, right where we are, and allow Him to restore our joy today.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for reminding me that true joy can be found by having you in my life. Forgive me for letting the struggles of this world steal my joy. I come into your presence today, ready to experience more joy.

Psalm 23:6 reminds me that “your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” Thank you for this promise. With your goodness and love right beside me, I can always find reasons to be joyful. Lord, as I see others who are hurting, help me reach out and share the renewed joy I’ve found in you.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

For more spiritual growth resources, check out this free digital download from today’s devotion writer Kristine Brown, 100 of God’s Promises for Your Unraveled Heart. You’ll find weekly encouragement to help you “become more than yourself through God’s Word” at her website, kristinebrown.net. Kristine is the author of the book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God.

Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.

Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith

Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going. 

Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.

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