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, you are disappointed
that you allowed someone else to take control of your day
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! Being 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 in their situation 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 is a miracle from the Lord.

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 are filled with joy because we know that we have been forgiven.

ACTION:
Are you relinquishing your attitudes to the control of others? Have
you forgotten the joy of being saved by the Lord? Wouldn’t you like
to put a stop to others ruining your 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, and to do that requires an
attitude of humility that replaces our tendencies to be independent
and sometimes 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 remember
what You have done for me. When I am affected by others, it
is for a brief time when compared to how You affect me for
an eternity. Teach me to change my focus and my attitudes
so that others no longer destroy the joy You have given me.”

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