Manifested Joy - The One Year Daily Acts of Gratitude Devotional

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It happens at the same time each weekday afternoon. As I pull on my coat and reach for my keys, our goldendoodles Sully and Thea begin a doggie tap dance. They twirl in circles, toenails clicking across the vinyl floor, tails wagging so hard that their entire rear ends swing left to right, right to left. They know it’s time to pick up the kids from school, and they are desperate to tag along for the ride. And on the days that we aren’t running errands or going anywhere else after the pickup, I swing the door wide open and call out, “Hey, doggos, let’s go get the kids!”

At my invitation, it’s every creature for him or herself as a pell-mell dash of furry bodies streaks out the door and to the car, followed by an eager waiting as I catch up. They pile into the back seat and settle into their specific spots, delighted and content to be along for the relatively short ride.

I cannot help but grin as I shut the rear driver’s-side door and climb into my seat; their exuberant joy over an ordinary and routine task is contagious. We’re off to gather up our family after a school day apart, and that—in and of itself—is reason for rejoicing.

Can one be convicted by the joy of their pet? I’d never before considered it, but the answer is yes, at least for me. Can I trust God enough—even in the hard times—to be filled with his peace and joy? Can I search for joyful moments to cherish and abiding peace in even the chaotic stretches of life? If we can, and when we do, we’re promised the overflow of confident hope through the Holy Spirit. This promise is a rare and priceless gift in a world often teetering on the edge of hopelessness. It has challenged me to be a hunter of joy and peace, intentionally searching it out and basking in even the smallest glimpses.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Be a hunter of joy and peace, seizing small moments while recognizing God’s handiwork.