10 Habits to Help You Find Joy Every Day

Joy? Every day? Is that even possible?

There was a time when I would have said, “No.”

“No” because I was so caught up in life’s whirlwind of distractions, busyness, and worry—of trying to juggle it all—that the whirlwind was all I could see. (Anyone else?) And, “no,” because I didn’t fully understand what God’s kind of joy really was. 

But one morning, surrounded by the mess of all that I couldn’t fix and couldn’t control, I lifted up a desperate prayer. I asked God to show me His presence, His care, and, yes, His joy.  

And, y’all, He did! Literally!

In that moment, God filled my eyes with glimpses of His divine presence all around me—in the singing of the birds who never escape His notice, in the trees that clap out His praise as the wind whips through their leaves, and in the wildflowers that He so carefully and splendidly clothes. I even glimpsed His hand at work in the unexpected text that came just when I needed it most.

That morning, God led me to understand that His joy is so much more than mere fleeting happiness. It isn’t dependent upon everything going my way or my being able to juggle it all just right. Rather, God’s joy is knowing that—somehow, someway, someday—everything is going to be right again because God is good and in control and we can trust that He is working in our lives. Even in the midst of the whirlwind.

Those glimpses of God’s joy made such a profound impact on me and how I live my life that I don’t ever want to not see His joy again. So I’ve made some changes, swapping out old habits for something new. They’re so simple and easy, yet they change everything. And I want to share those habits here with you:

Habits to Help You Find Joy Every Day

1. Begin each day with God. It can be as simple as reading a verse before slipping out of bed, humming a hymn as you rise, whispering a praise with that first sip of coffee, or lifting up a prayer as you lift up your eyes to greet the day.

2. Get outside and step into His creation. Open your eyes to see the wonders of all God has made—the sunrise chasing away the darkness, the clouds drifting by, the birds winging their way on the wind. Remind yourself that not one of them escapes His notice or care, and neither do you (Matthew 6:26).

3. Seek the signs of His presence in the moments of your day, especially the less-than-lovely ones. He is there, and He is cheering you on. Yes, even in the snarls of traffic, the printer that refuses to print, and the tantrum-throwing child.

4. Talk to Him. Prayer doesn’t have to be formal or finished. It can be a thought, a question, a conversation without beginning or end. Or simply say His Name: Lord, Father, Jesus, El Shaddai to remind yourself that, yes, He is here with you in this moment and that He loves to listen when you turn to Him.

5. Do something that makes someone else smile. Big or small, random or planned. Share a smile, let someone else go first, leave a note, or send a text. Be the reason someone else sees the goodness of God today.

6. Do something that makes you smile. Savor a cup of something warm and sweet. Call a friend. Read a chapter of a favorite book. Slip away and spend time on that hobby you love. Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers. And then thank the Giver of all good gifts for these things that make you smile.

7. Do something that makes God smile. Say His name in conversation. Give in a way only He sees. Carve out time simply to spend with Him. Love when it isn’t easy. Serve when it isn’t convenient.

8. Unplug. I know it’s hard. But just for a few moments. Silence the alerts and notifications and electronic distractions to be fully present in this moment. Because it is this moment—not the past or the moments yet to come—that God is waiting to meet with you.

9. Rest each day. In sleep, in stillness and silence, or right in the midst of the busyness. Breathe in deeply and step into His presence even as you step through the halls at work, down the grocery store aisles, or over the piles of laundry. Remember that He is good and God and in control. Accept His invitation and trust Him to take care of all that really matters as you rest in Him (Matthew 11:28).

10. End the day with gratitude and praise. Whether it’s a nightly journal or an exhausted “Thank You, Lord” as you drop into bed, take a moment to praise the One who walked with you every step of the way this day, who will watch over you while you sleep, and who will be waiting to greet you when you wake.

So… joy every day? There was a time when I would have said that was impossible. But I now know better. I now know that the joy of the Lord can be mine—can be yours—even on the darkest of days, even in the most ordinary of moments. Because when we seek God, He promises to be found. And in His presence, we will find joy!

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Eva Blanco 

Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than sixty titles to her credit, including her latest release Everyday Joys Devotional. Tama has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for all ages. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a joyful little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced he’s people too. Learn more at www.TamaFortner.com.