ARE THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF OTHERS STEALING YOUR JOY?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
(Acts 16:25)

MEDITATION:
How many times have you started out the day feeling good,
but suddenly somebody said or did something that ruined
your entire day? When that happens, aren’t you disappointed
that you allowed someone else to take control of your day, and
cause a change in your and your attitude? How can we stop
that from happening in the future? We can learn from the
apostles Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas faced some of the most difficult circumstances
imaginable. They were falsely accused, arrested, and imprisoned.
They were beaten and shackled in the darkest, coldest section of
the prison. But they refused to let this terrible situation dampen
their joy.

They didn’t blame God for allowing these things to happen to them,
and they didn’t allow the Romans to steal their joy. Instead, they
praised God for His goodness! Even though they were cold and in
the darkness of the night, they prayed and sang to the God who
loves them.

God brought a miracle that released them from their chains. But
the greater miracle may have been that His Holy Spirit filled them
so much, that even during the worst of times, they overflowed with
joy.

When God causes His people to maintain their joy during adverse
circumstances, we can call it whatever we want to, but it’s a miracle
from the Lord. Why? Because we know we couldn’t react that way
without divine help and intervention.

Our joy should not depend on our circumstances. Joy is a gift from
God and consequently, it should not be affected by what is outside
of us. Actions by others may tend to threaten our joy, however our
true joy is in knowing that God Himself lives within us, and that He
fellowships with us regardless of our environment, or circumstances.
We should continue to be filled with joy because we know that we
have been forgiven by our loving and gracious Heavenly Father.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Am I relinquishing my attitudes to the control of others?
    – Have I forgotten the joy of being saved by the Lord?
    – Would I like to put a stop to others ruining my day?

God can help us do that, and we need to ask Him for His help.
When we ask for His help, we are admitting our dependence
on God. Exchanging our independence for dependence on Him
requires an attitude of humility that replaces our tendencies to
be independent, and maybe even arrogant.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy of Your salvation!
I am sorry that I have allowed others to destroy the joy in
my life. Help me to overlook what others do or say, and to
remember what You have done for me. When I am affected
by others, it is for a brief time when compared to how You
impact my life for an eternity. Teach me to change my focus
and my attitudes so that others can no longer destroy the joy
You have given me. Thank You for the miracle of having joy
even when circumstances or the action or words from others
try to destroy it and cause discouragement for me.”

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