John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?
I have found for myself and many around me that one of the things that keeps us from joy is being heavily problem focused. We complain and gossip in our prayer requests and then complain and gossip in our prayers. It is not an issue to bring these things before the Lord, but I would encourage us to approach with genuine faith and thankfulness. Joy accompanies a heart of thankfulness.
Imagine for a second that the disciples encounter the risen Jesus. Peter approaches with arms crossed, "Nice party trick, Jesus," he says. Or even, "Hey thanks for that." Do you expect that to be the model for genuine joy? No. Instead, what do we see? We see Peter on a boat fishing when a man on the shore calls out to him to fish the other side. When Peter does so, his net is filled to the bursting. Having a moment of realization, Peter puts his cloak on and dives into the water to rush to Jesus with all zeal and fervor. He is overcome with joy and an attitude of thankfulness.
Is my life marked with praise and thankfulness? Do I rejoice in the Lord and the work He has accomplished? Do I just bring my problems to Him and that is the extent of our relationship? If the latter is true, no wonder joy is lacking. A quick and simple move that allows for joy to fill my life is simply practicing thankfulness. I will believe He has overcome the world and rejoice in His victory.
What application are you implementing?
Imagine for a second that the disciples encounter the risen Jesus. Peter approaches with arms crossed, "Nice party trick, Jesus," he says. Or even, "Hey thanks for that." Do you expect that to be the model for genuine joy? No. Instead, what do we see? We see Peter on a boat fishing when a man on the shore calls out to him to fish the other side. When Peter does so, his net is filled to the bursting. Having a moment of realization, Peter puts his cloak on and dives into the water to rush to Jesus with all zeal and fervor. He is overcome with joy and an attitude of thankfulness.
Is my life marked with praise and thankfulness? Do I rejoice in the Lord and the work He has accomplished? Do I just bring my problems to Him and that is the extent of our relationship? If the latter is true, no wonder joy is lacking. A quick and simple move that allows for joy to fill my life is simply practicing thankfulness. I will believe He has overcome the world and rejoice in His victory.
What application are you implementing?
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2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?John 21 | What am I going to do about it?Passage of the Week: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the connection?
2025
January
Proverbs 27:5Proverbs 27:6Proverbs 27:7Proverbs 27:8Proverbs 27:9Proverbs 27:10Proverbs 27:11Proverbs 27:12Proverbs 27:13Proverbs 27:14Proverbs 27:15-16Proverbs 27:17Proverbs 27:18Proverbs 27:19Proverbs 27:20Proverbs 27:21Proverbs 27:22Proverbs 27:23Proverbs 27:24Proverbs 27:25-27Proverbs 28:1Proverbs 28:2Proverbs 28:3Proverbs 28:4
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