Day 11

REFLECTION

Joy is sometimes confused with buzz or trill, but joy is not bound with ‘enjoyment’ as we understand it. So much so that one can be joyful even in difficult times. This superior or greater happiness the Word of God equates with the experience of being loved, with presence, meaning, purpose, fullness of life, sense of security and peace.

BIBLE VERSE

You have filled my heart with greater joy. (Psalm 4:7)

ACTIVITY

There is an old song called ‘One of Us’ that says, “what if God was one of us … just a stranger on the bus, tryna make his way home?” God is with us in our ordinary, ‘flat’ situations. What can you do to help you acknowledge this?
Next time you are on the bus from school and it is rush-hour and stuck in traffic, observe the people around you. It’s a very familiar and ordinary scene. If you are not careful, this experience can be tiring and puts you in a bad mood. Remember God is with you right there! Look closely again and expect at least another pair of eyes that meet yours: a friendly person that nods or smiles back at you. This exchange of greetings turns an ordinary and perhaps an unpleasant ride into a good one. Thank God for the joy of recognising his everlasting Presence.

PRAYER

Dear God, whenever possible and by your grace, turn all bad moods into good ones. Thank you for the people that you provide me with to help me in this process.