Take A Joy Break

"For the joy of the LORD is your strength."

- Nehemiah 8:10

After having such a wonderful experience yesterday, today, I was feeling rather blah, just kind of joyless. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was that I overslept, or that I hadn't much sleep the past two nights: uncooperative sinuses kept me up last night. Maybe it was the cloudy day. Maybe it's because the past few days have been a bit stressful, both personally and at work.

Whatever the cause, I don't like feeling joyless, walking around in a funk, all cranky and tired. It isn't who I am. I want to overflow with joy. God wants me to overflow with joy. (My mood did lift a little when on my way home I saw a rainbow—to me they're like pictoric "love notes" from God."

Lord, I need an escape from the blahs!

During my quiet time tonight, I looked up "joy" in the Bible and found 242 references (in the NIV). I started reading through them, quickly at first, then very slowly. I was on the 200th verse, when I noticed I felt about 100 times better. That was all I needed—to just take a joy break.

Do you need a joy break? Here's a sampling to get you started.

"Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place." - 1 Chronicles 16:27

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." - Psalm 90:14

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." - Psalm 28:7

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." - Isaiah 12:3

"… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." - Isaiah 61:3

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." - Isaiah 55:12

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." - Luke 2:10

"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." - John 16:24

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..." - 1 Peter 1:8