Photo taken in Florida.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come to You through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. I give You praise and thanks for the joy that my personal relationship with You has given and is giving. Your nearness gives me more peace and joy than anything in this world ever could. Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

Guard me from the common and dangerous perception that the temporary happiness in this life is all that there is. Your Word in the Bible makes it clear that there is no comparison to the joy that can be found in a good relationship with You. Show me how the happiness of this world is fleeting, never quite satisfying enough, and forces a person to, in frustration, continually search for more and more. As Solomon so aptly put in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “he who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.”

Direct me to clearly understand when I am searching for peace and contentment that I can only find it from my relationship with You. John 14:27a “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

You point out in Philippians 4:8 many of the characteristics that will help develop in me the joy of the Lord. I ask for further maturity in all of them. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”

In Jesus Name, thank you that the joy of the Lord comes from You and not my self effort. Amen.