Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Acts 16:25–26 (MSG)
You need to make a decision today. Over the past few days, we’ve been discussing the fact that joy is in you because of your relationship with Jesus. Today, you can decide that you will live a life of incredible joy.
I know that sometimes joy seems far from reach because of the situations you face in life, but joy is so much deeper than your circumstances. When Paul and Silas were beaten, whipped and then held in the deplorable conditions of a Roman prison, they had joy.
Their circumstances couldn’t have been much worse; the Romans were nailing Christians to crosses by the hundreds, so there wasn’t much hope. Still, they chose peace and joy in the middle of their dark situation.
How is this possible? They chose joy because they focused on the fact that God was good. They had confidence that God would turn that situation around! They responded with faith-filled worship, and the results were miraculous. The jail shook, doors opened and chains fell off. They went on to impact that city for Jesus because they chose peace and joy instead of stress and hopelessness.
Over the next few days we will cover seven things that can rob you of joy. If you’re facing an incredibly difficult situation, remember that you need joy to overcome and it’s in you because of Jesus. Choose joy today and keep reading because there is a lot you can do to cultivate it!