Thursday, September 4, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 4
Life can be extremely hard at times. So how do we find joy when things are difficult?
We often confuse happiness and joy. Happiness is fleeting and based on our circumstances, while joy is a deep and unshakable contentment, rooted in God’s presence not our circumstances. When we focus on the situation, it’s easy to become obsessed with solving the issue.
I can say from experience that this is a terrible way to live. Focusing on the problems and creating worst-case scenarios in our heads causes tunnel vision, and we end up missing out on all of God’s blessings in our lives.
Praise God, he lifted me out of my pit and restored me through Jesus. Now, I choose to focus on Jesus and trust him in all situations. My faith in him fills me with peace, joy, and contentment.
He wants to do the same for all of us! He came to give us a joy-filled life.
John 10:10
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
The only way to have a rich and satisfying life is to seek him first and obey him. Then we can sit back in amazement and watch him work.
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
When we seek him first he changes us. We realize God is our loving Daddy who wants what is best for our lives. We must choose to focus on Jesus instead of the temporary things of this world. As we grow in faith and trust him more, we are able to surrender everything to him.
We sing praise and worship songs instead of grumbling and complaining.
We find peace in mediating on his Word instead of our troubles.
We let him lead and work in our lives.
We live in true freedom because we are confident that our lives now and for eternity are secure.
We are so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy we have to tell everyone what he has done for us. Our greatest desire is for everyone to experience God’s love, peace, contentment, and joy.
And everyone said, “AMEN”!
Questions:
What is your main focus?
What steps do you need to take to live a joy-filled life?
How are you seeking the Kingdom of God first?
Next Steps:
Listen and sing praise music. (I suggest “Gifts from God” by Chris Tomlin, featuring Chris Lane.)
Meditate on your favorite verses.
Share God’s love with others.
Prayer:
Daddy, I am overwhelmed with joy because of you. I trust you. Help me to seek you first and live righteously. I am so grateful that the God of the universe loves me so much and has a perfect plan for my life. I trust you and surrender everything to you. I know my present, future, and eternity are secure in you. I worship and praise you. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
This post was written by Marsha Raymond, an Oregon attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.