CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 770

“Finding Joy”

Psalm 16:11  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;

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It had been a quiet morning since the shop opened and Sarah, the lone clerk at the time, busied herself with merchandising tasks for what she hoped would be a busy, and profitable, business day.  The atmosphere of background Christmas music was momentarily interrupted by the jingle of the bells that announced someone entering through the front door.  On a busy day the door’s jingle sound had a prosperous yet annoying ring to it at the same time as people entered and exited with frequency.  A well-dressed, middle-aged woman walked slowly into the store.  She had an almost apprehensive look about her as if she was not sure if she was in the right place. Sarah approached the customer and greeted her warmly.

‘Good morning! How may I help you today?’

‘I’m not sure you can,’ she replied.  ‘I’m looking for joy and no matter what I buy, all I get is a temporary happy feeling that does not last.  Can you help me?’  Sarah could not help but notice the song being sung in the store’s background music, Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room…

Taking that as her cue in a divine appointment Sarah replied, ‘Joy and happiness are two different things.  Happiness is relative to your circumstances at the time.  It is an emotional response that lasts only as long as circumstances remain the same. People are no longer happy with their car once the new car smell is gone.  Their happiness with the latest technology gadget lasts only until the next best thing comes around.  Happiness needs to be constantly refueled with the things of this world.  When it cannot be, that is when people become depressed and feel empty.’

‘You are so right,’ the woman replied. ‘I always feel sadness during the holiday season when I know I should be rejoicing.  Where is joy found?’ The music had transitioned to Away in a Manager, Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray…

‘I have just the book for you over here,’ Sarah replied as she led the woman over to the Bible section of the bookstore.

‘I don’t need a self-help, new-age kind of book’, the woman quickly stated as she hesitated to follow.

‘We don’t have anything like that in this store,’ Sarah said. ‘Joy is not found in things or through a religious experience. True joy that lasts is only found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God. It is only in His abiding presence that we can have joy and peace regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?’

Your words were found … and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart… – Jeremiah 15:16

‘I used to go to my parent’s church as a child.  But, no I do not know Jesus that way.’

‘Do you want to?’ Sarah asked.

‘Yes.  Yes, very much so, she replied.’

Sarah shared the Gospel and led the woman to Christ. The woman left with more than a Bible gift in her hands.  She left with Christ in her heart and had found true joy at last.  The door’s bells jingled as it opened and closed behind her.  It was the sound of angels rejoicing in Heaven.

Now … keep his words in your heart … Throw away your gold …  Let Almighty God be your gold, and let him be silver… Then you will always trust in God and find that he is the source of your joy. – Job 22:21

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.