Daily Devotional
Are You Looking for Joy in the Wrong Places?
“And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
1 John 1:4
August 7, 2021
Ponder This
A woman lost her house keys. She looked all over the house, and she couldn’t find them. Finally, she looked in her purse and there they were. You know why she didn’t find them before she looked in her purse? She was looking in the wrong place. We can look all over for joy, but we won’t find joy until we find it in the Lord Jesus Christ. Joy is the byproduct of fellowship with God and fellowship with the family of God. Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Sin promises joy but it never delivers. We have more entertainment, more amusements, more restaurants, yet more loneliness and depression than ever. Why? Because there’s only true joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Have you sought joy in the wrong places?
- How might you turn from lesser things and seek joy that is found only in Jesus?
Practice This
Today, use time you would usually spend for leisure or entertainment for prayer or study, seeking joy in the Lord.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
