Day 1 of Joy

Genesis 21:6, “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me joy and laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

Gods’ Truth: God’s will is to bring joy and laugher to you.

God has brought ______(name)_____ joy and laugher.  God laughs and wants you to laugh with Him.  Can you hear God’s laugher?  Listen closely.

Day 2 of Joy

Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but willrejoice over you with singing.”

God Truth: “Rejoice over you with singing” means God dances, skips, leaps, and spins around in joy.

Start dancing with God for He is already dancing over you.

Day 3 of Joy

Matthew 9:10, “Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”

God’s Truth: God likes to party and have fun with you.

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” C. S. Lewis.  Is Joy the serious business of your life?

Day 4 of Joy

Psalm 16:9, “Therefore, my heart is glad, my whole being rejoices, and my body will dwell securely.”

God’s Truth:  We can’t have too much joy.

Do you see the cup half full or half empty?  God wants you to see the cup overflowing.  You are to be overflowing with joy.  Dear God, help us to break the cultural mindset that it is ok to be mellow in our joy.

Day 5 of Joy

Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

God’s Truth:  We can’t rejoice too much.

God has not changed when things go bad.  God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.  Rejoicing is not depended upon circumstances, rejoicing is a reflection on our relationship to God.  A practical application, rejoice in God at the beginning of each hour for the next 24 hours.

Day 6 of Joy

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

God’s Truth: Joy is a product of making good fruit.

We are called to be a spiritual gardener.  The right tools, hard work and rain from heaven will produce good fruit.  We have to work to produce joy.

Day 7 of Joy

Matthew 6:10, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

God’s Truth: In heaven, there is no depression.  Heaven is filled with Joy.

Jesus told us to pray that God’s kingdom come and His will be done on earth.  Today, we can live in His heavenly principles. Pray The Lord’s Prayer and pray this specific  sentence as a declaration before God.

Day 8 of Joy

Psalms 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy”

God’s Truth: More God in me, more joy in me.

Spending time with God results in more joy.  The more God speaks to you, the more you allow Him to change you to become like Him.  More God!  More Joy!

Day 9 of Joy

Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

God’s Truth: Following God’s kingdom principles means living in joy.

“Since the kingdom is “righteousness, peace and joy” one third of your work needs to be joyful. In other words – 1/3 of your culture needs to be fun!”  Lance Wallnau.  Even if that is a loose interpretation of Romans 14:17, do we spend 1/3 of our day in joy?

Day 10 of Joy

I Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God’s Truth: “The root of joy is gratefulness… For it is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”  Brother David Steindl-Rast

A daily thanksgiving turns into years of Joy.  Gratefulness is the foundation that builds the mountain of Joy in our lives so that the rocks of disappointment no longer destroy us.  Spend the day, thanking God for the many ordinary things that you have taken for granted.  Make a list throughout the day and at the end of the day thank God again.

Day 11 of Joy

2 Timothy 3:1, 2, “In the last days…For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…”

God’s Truth: The sin of ingratitude is a joy killer.

Adam and Eve committed the sin of ingratitude for they were not satisfied with what God had given them and wanted the one tree that was forbidden.  In the last days, the sin of ingratitude will increase and is a spiritual stronghold that kills joy.  By giving thanks you are destroying the sin of ingratitude (Day 10).  Keep practicing Day 10 throughout the 40 Days of Joy.

Day 12 of Joy

Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

God’s Truth: Joy drives out fear.

Fear is another demonic stronghold that can destroy joy.  But joy is a spiritual power that can destroy fear.  If you need help, ask others to pray for you.

Day 13 of Joy

Nehemiah 8:9b, 10, “For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.  Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

God’s Truth: Joy of the Lord is your strength.

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt in record time, the people were returning from captivity, the word of God was being read and the people were weeping.  Nehemiah says to stop weeping and break out good food and drink, show compassion, and celebrate the joy of the Lord.  The Joy of the Lord is more than a moment but our very strength.

Day 14 of Joy

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

God’s Truth: Thank God for life.

“Oh, what a beautiful morning, And oh, what a beautiful day, I’ve got a wonderful feeling, Everything’s going (delete “my) God’s way.”  Let’s sing, “This is the day, this is the day; that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made; we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.”

Day 15 of Joy

Lamentations 3:22, 23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God’s Truth: Thank God for His mercy is new every morning.

Each morning, pet dogs are so excited to see their owners, bodies shake, tails wag, and tongues give affectionate wet licks.  Every morning, God is so joyfully excited to see you, His body shakes and bounces, arms open, big smile and a kiss.  “His mercy is new every morning.”

Day 16 of Joy

Psalm 30:5, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

God’s Truth:  You can move from weeping to Joy.

When painful memories are no longer painful and you operate in joy memories, you have created new neurotransmitters in the brain.  You can create Joy in the brain.  Real science.  Dancing, verbal rejoicing, positive affirmation, giving thanks, and mediating on God’s word are means to change the brain.  Do some joy brain exercises today.

Day 17 of Joy

Psalm 30:5, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

God’s Truth:  Pain lasts for “night” but God’s favor lasts a lifetime

This is the same passage as Day 16, but with different application. God sees your pain as temporary.  God views your relationship with Him as permanent.  Prayer: “God help me to see myself as You see me.”

Day 18 of Joy

Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God’s Truth: You can have joy in the midst of hardship.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus.  For the joy set before us, we endured the cross.  When the joy is set before us, the cross is much less painful.

Day 19 of Joy

Isaiah 55:12, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

God’s Truth: God is creating a joyful people and they respond, the world will respond.

Don’t be left out of God’s end time party.  God is looking for joyful people.  When you become a person of joy, then you can become group full of joy.  When joy is released corporately, all creation will respond.

Day 20 of Joy

Isaiah 12:6, “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

God’s Truth: Joyful people are noisy.

If you want to be joyful but you don’t like shouting or singing, maybe that is a problem.  God has given you emotions to be released for His purposes.  Turn up the volume level.  Make some NOISE.  Are you worried about others?  Then take a drive in your car, rollup the windows, and get loud for Jesus.  You will be set free.

Day 21 of Joy

Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

God’s Truth: Laughter is healing.

What do you do for fun?  When was the last time you had a good laugh?  Research says laughter reduces stress hormones and improves overall health. Do we need scientific research or the Bible to get us to laugh more?

Day 22 of Joy

Luke 17:15-19, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.   Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

God’s Truth:  The one who returned was “well.”

An attitude of gratitude resulted in Jesus proclaiming that he was “well.”  We are not totally well until we understand gratitude.

Day 23 of Joy 

Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Psalm 71:23, “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.”

God’s Truth: The angels in heaven rejoiced in your salvation.

The heavens rejoiced over your salvation, do you rejoice?  Never take for granted what God has done for you.  A spirit of apathy can reduce the volume of joy in the heavens.  A spirit of joy can increase heaven’s sounds.

Day 24 of Joy 

Isaiah 35:10, “and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

God’s Truth: Shared Joy.

We are called in live and rejoice in community.  Find a safe community to celebrate joy and share your sorrows. In community, joy helps sorrows and sighings flee.

Day 25 of Joy

Psalm 47:1, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

God’s Truth:  Joy in the nations.

Rejoice in what God is doing in Africa, South America, Asia and even in the Middle East.  The nations are responding.  Rejoice in what God is doing.

Day 26 of Joy

John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

God’s Truth: Ask for Joy and you will receive.

The principle is simple, if you do not ask, you will never receive.  Therefore, ask God for His will and your joy will be complete.

Day 27 of Joy

2 John 1:12, “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

God’s Truth: Other people are needed to make your joy complete.

People who need people, are the joyfulest people in the world.  No exactly the Barbara Streisand song.  “Joyfulest” may not be a proper English word, but it is the proper Biblical expression.  Isolation limits our joy.  God desires relational joy.

Day 28 of Joy

Job 8:21, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

God’s Truth: God wants you to laugh.

Twenty seven days ago, on Day 1 of Joy, you were asked, “Can you hear God’s laugher?”  Do you hear it now?  Can you hear your own laughter?  Your own laughter probably sounds a lot like God’s laughter.  Laughter is a form of prayer.  The prayer of laughter is powerful, healing, and freeing.

Day 29 of Joy

2 Corinthians 7:14, “I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.”

God’s Truth: Joy has no limit.

When we rejoice in what God has done for others, our joy knows no bounds.  Do want to break past your Joy capacity, then start thanking God for others.

Day 30 of Joy

Acts 13:52, “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

God’s Truth:  Holy Spirit is full of Joy.

The disciples were surrounded by persecution but were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.  The early church grew through the impact of joy and the Holy Spirit.  Joy and Holy Spirit seem to be partners.

Day 31 of Joy

Romans 1:12, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”

God’s Truth:  Trials are God’s opportunities for Joy.

Andrae Crouch sang, “For if I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know God could solve them.”  Or as Chuck Swindoll said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”  Joy comes not just in the good moments but is formed in the difficult moments.  “Count it all Joy!”

Day 32 of Joy

John 16:22, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

God’s Truth:  When Joy takes root, it will never leave.

God wants to move you from having joyful moments to becoming a person of joy.  Joy can become part of your nature.  Even when sorrows reign, joy can still reside deep within you.  Sorrow will pass, joy remains.

Day 33 of Joy

Psalm 126:5, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!”

God’s Truth: Tears can be changed to Joy.

The quick fixes to joy do not work.  Sowing daily disciplines of moving from an ungrateful person to a thankful person is often a painful but a necessary process.  The tears of the soul help us see God more clearly, see our own soul more honestly, and find joy more deeply.

Day 34 of Joy
I Peter 4:13, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

God’s Truth: The deeper you know the pain of the cross, the deeper the JOY of His glory will be revealed.

Christ died on the cross for our sufferings and even for our complaints.  The power of the cross is experienced when our complaints and grumblings are put to death.  Christ died to set us free.  Christ died so that the resurrection of JOY can be released.

Day 35 of Joy

Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

God’s Truth: The world may be falling apart, but we can still operate in Joy.

Our joy is not depended on the stock market, employment, the government or others.  Joy is not related to your favorite sports team winning or losing.  Joy is not conditional. Joy is based on God.  God is good even when the economy is bad.

Day 36 of Joy

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

God’s Truth: When you pray, pray with Joy.

Prayer should be done out of a spirit of thanksgiving.  Prayer is not a desperate act.  Prayer is not a reaction to a bad situation but a Joyful action to a great God.

Day 37 of Joy

2 Chronicles 20:21, “The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!'”

God’s Truth: Release Joy ahead of the problem.

God appointed singers to lead the army in worship before the battle.  We don’t have to wait until the battle is won to rejoice.  Rejoice before the battle begins.  Are you headed to work and anticipate a difficult meeting?  Rejoice in the Lord!

Day 38 of Joy

Luke 17:15-19, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.   Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

God’s Truth: Thankfulness brings us into full health.

Ten were physically healed but only one came back to thank Jesus.  The one who came back to thank Jesus is the one who was “well.”  To be fully well, physically, emotionally and spiritually means we are people of gratitude.

Day 39 of Joy

Jeremiah 33:9, “Jerusalem will be for me a name of joy, praise, and glory to all the nations of the earth that hear about all the good that I’m doing for them. They’ll fear and tremble because of all the good and because of all the peace that I’m bringing to Jerusalem.”

God’s truth: Israel remains a focal point of God’s plan and Jerusalem is called a city of Joy.

Pray for the Peace of Israel and for the Joy of Jerusalem.  Today, Jerusalem is in the middle of high spiritual warfare.  In the last days, Jerusalem will become a city of Joy, and the world will tremble.

Day 40 of Joy

John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

God’s Truth: God’s will is that we are filled with Joy.

Jesus spoke about JOY more than eternal life.  Why? Joy is important to God and important to us.  God calls us to join the Joy Club.  The last forty days is a small selection of the many scriptures of Joy.  Let Joy change your life and let Joy change the lives around you.


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