God Cares about Your Joy - Your Nightly Prayer

Your Nightly Prayer

God Cares About Your Joy
Your Nightly Prayer for May 15, 2025
by Robert Hampshire

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." -John 15:9-11, ESV

SOMETHING TO PONDER

When I was a child sitting in church services and hearing sermons, I remember having the impression that God was not at all interested in my happiness or joy. The long list of things that I was not supposed to do at times made it seem like I was going to have to choose between living a life fully for God and having "fun." In fact, a lot of the specifically entertaining hobbies, such as bowling, skating, watching movies, listening to most kinds of music, and sports, were discouraged or forbidden because they were either a waste of time or sinful. I was told to work and attend church services.

As I have gotten older, though, I have realized that while it is true that some things I could spend my time on are, in fact, a waste of time or sinful, God is not at all opposed to me having fun, resting from my work, enjoying a good meal, participating in a hobby, or playing a game. And even more importantly, I have discovered that God actually DOES care about my happiness and joy, and he has given me the secrets in His Word to living the most joyful and fulfilling life possible.

But joy will never come from doing or not doing something - it comes from living my life, as Jesus said, abiding in Jesus and his love. Seeking to please him and not others. Obeying him and not the world. Inviting him into everything we do and doing what we do for his glory. Then, and only then will his joy be in us - and our joy will be full.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
You who created us know us best. And you alone are the one who can make known to us the path of life, and in you alone are pleasures forevermore. Help me to trust your plan for my life, to seek true, lasting joy that is only found in you, and to abide in you and in your love.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Think about what you did last that gave you true joy (even if it was from your childhood)

2. Name something that you wrongfully thought brought you joy in your past, and thank God for delivering you from that wrong thinking

3. List out 10 things that God has done in your life because he loves you and wants you to live joyfully

Robert Hampshire is a pastor, teacher, writer, and leader. He has been married to Rebecca since 2008 and has four children: Brooklyn, Bryson, Abram, and Aubrey. Robert attended North Greenville University in South Carolina for his undergraduate and Liberty University in Virginia for his Masters. He has served as a worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. He now serves at Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. He furthers his ministry through his blog site, Faithful Thinking, and YouTube channel. His life goal is to serve God and His Church by reaching the lost with the gospel, making devoted disciples, equipping and empowering others to go further in their faith and calling, and leading a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. Find out more about him here.