A Prayer For Joy

A prayer for Joy

When I want something more than happiness

O Lord,

Help me to grasp the difference between joy and happiness. I want to be happy, just like everyone else, but I realize that happiness is a temporary reaction to events in my life. Instead, create in me a greater desire for joy, which is strong and lasting, and can happen in spite of my circumstances. This kind of joy comes by following you and living according to your principles. If happiness is all I can count on, I will always need to experience happy events to keep me going. But with joy, I know that no matter what happens, you offer hope and promise. Joy is celebrating my walk with you, O God. It is having peace with you. It is realizing how privileged I am to know Jesus as my Savior, to have my sins forgiven, to be friends with you, God Almighty. It is experiencing the dramatic change that occurs when I allow the Holy Spirit to control my heart and mind. You do not promise constant happiness, but you do promise lasting joy to those who follow you. Thank you, Lord.

Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:1-2